Private Event - Accor Design Awards: Championing Future Talents in the Hospitality Sector
Thursday 7 September —
15:00
- 15:45
The Talks — Hall 7
Description
Now in its 8th year, the Accor Design Awards continue to spotlight the talents of tomorrow. In partnership with Maison&Objet the awards showcase how, through working with design students and harnessing their vivacity, it brings a renewed creativity to the hospitality sector. Speaking with Damien Perrot, Global Chief Design, Technical Services & Innovation Officer at Accor for Premium, Midscale & Economy brands, and talented designer Irina Sundukova, design journalist Roddy Clarke discusses not only the talents showcased at this year edition, but also how this initiative has been an inspiring and powerful tool for change within Accor itself.
Nos partenaires : Material Bank
Participants
Damien PerrotGlobal Chief Design, Technical Services and Innovation Officer Accor Premium, Midscale & Economy brands
Irina SundukovaCo-founder, co-owner and art-director - Sundukovy Sisters Design Studio
Roddy ClarkeJournalist
Damien Perrot
Global Chief Design, Technical Services and Innovation Officer Accor Premium, Midscale & Economy brands
After graduating from Vatel Hospitality School, Damien Perrot joined Accor in 1998 as IT Project manager for the Wagon-Lits Company. He was then appointed Project manager in the Procurement Department. From 2000 to 2012, he successfully occupied various positions within the Hotels Equipment Services: as IT Project leader first, then as Department Director before being appointed Design & Technical Services Communication Director in 2009. In 2013, he joined the ibis Family teams as Technical Vice-President for Europe. From 2014 to 2022, Damien led the Group Global Design department and from 2021 the Innovation Lab as well. As of January 2023, he oversees the Global Design, Technical Services and Innovation for Premium, Midscale & Economy brands at Accor. Damien has been fond of cuisine since his childhood and of board sports later on. Damien’s major challenge today is to define and deploy the Design and Innovation strategy for the Premium, Midscale & Economy brands. He also ensures to reinforce the brand equity and brand identity, bringing his team and the group strategy beyond hospitality traditional borders in terms of design, technical services and innovation. Always respecting operational obligations, the department Damien leads is increasingly looking for creativity to build experiences and arouse emotions, while also increasing the performance for investors.
Irina Sundukova
Co-founder, co-owner and art-director - Sundukovy Sisters Design Studio
Co-founders, co-owners and art-directors of Sundukovy Sisters Design Studio (S+S Studio) Storytelling is at the heart of Irina and Olga’s design process, as a unique narrative is developed for each project based on the specifics of the client and context to create spaces with a sense of romance and a touch of irony. Their aesthetic could be described as timeless minimalism infused with emotional maximalism. The portfolio includes over 150 iconic projects, including Raffles Saint Petersburg, Sofitel Benin and Le Louis Versailles Chateau MGallery Hotel. They founded their own design studio in 2004. By 2012, S+S had become the №1 design studio in Russia for public spaces, growing to over 70 team members. In 2014 the studio started to work internationally. The S+S brand has been recognised through numerous international awards, including a Gold Key Award as Designers of the Year 2018, the design equivalent of the Oscars. In 2018 they were also one of several winning entries of an international competition to create a new design concept to be used for Novotel brand worldwide. From 2020, they have worked on establishing a luxury division for the design of brands such as Fairmont, Sofitel and Raffles. In 2021, they entered the Asian markets with projects in Vietnam and Thailand. In 2022, S+S opened a new office in Dubai and moved their base of operations to new headquarters in Cyprus and the UAE.
Roddy Clarke
Journalist
A graduate of Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Roddy Clarke is a design writer looking at the social and environmental impacts of design. With a background in restoration, Roddy covers topics such as circularity, responsible design, and the presence of traditional craft in a contemporary society. Contributing to titles such as The Financial Times and Forbes, Roddy also hosts and speaks across various industry events while also consulting with brands to help them navigate their way to a greener future through transparent and honest communication. Roddy also works as an interior stylist for a variety of brand-related projects.