TIMELESS was born from an idea as simple as it is elusive: to freeze time. Designed by SUMMUMSTUDIO® for the ROOM Awards 2026, the trophy transforms the passage of time into an active part of its own narrative, turning every moment into a unique, unrepeatable experience.
Conceived as a sculptural object, the proposal finds its strength in restraint. Its silhouette, abstractly inspired by the shape of an hourglass, avoids any literal interpretation to become a serene, essential volume—almost suspended in time. A fluid geometry that seems to have been shaped by the passage of time itself.
At the heart of the trophy, a block of real ice introduces a living, performative dimension. As the ice slowly melts, the piece evolves and transforms. Time ceases to be an abstract concept and becomes a tangible presence. The object changes, while the silent dripping of water into the central void becomes a metaphor for the inevitable: every moment is destined to disappear, yet also to leave an indelible mark.
This inner void thus becomes the project's true conceptual core. It does not represent absence, but rather the space where memory resides—where the ephemeral acquires meaning. The transparency of the ice, its fragility, and its gradual disappearance create a delicate tension between permanence and transformation, between what endures and what inevitably fades away.
In this way, the proposal establishes a parallel with contemporary design itself. In contrast to the immediate, the purely aesthetic, or the trend-driven, TIMELESS champions a timeless approach to design—one capable of enduring and continuing to communicate across generations.
Yet the trophy is conceived as more than a commemorative object. From the outset, it is envisioned as the conceptual axis around which the identity and atmosphere of the ROOM Awards 2026 are built. Beyond designing a sculptural form, the project seeks to create a shared experience and a compelling narrative capable of enveloping the entire event.
The idea of "freezing the moment" therefore extends beyond the object itself to embrace the time experienced throughout the ceremony. TIMELESS speaks to the value of those unrepeatable moments that exist only while they are happening. It understands time not merely as duration, but as lived experience. The slow melting of the ice makes this idea tangible: every passing minute transforms the piece, just as every moment experienced during the event disappears even as it leaves a lasting imprint on the memory of those who share it.
Within this dialogue between permanence and transformation, the choice of Krion takes on a fundamental significance. Its use is not merely an aesthetic decision, but one rooted in the very nature of the material. Krion allows the creation of a pure, precise, and seamless volume, while also embodying an idea intrinsically linked to the concept of TIMELESS: endurance. In contrast to the inevitable transformation of the ice, Krion remains virtually unchanged. While time alters, erodes, and ultimately erases the ephemeral, the material preserves its presence intact. This duality—between an element destined to disappear and another designed to endure—reinforces the conceptual narrative of the piece and transforms the trophy into a material reflection on time.
More than a commemorative object, TIMELESS offers a material meditation on time itself: a piece conceived to move people, to create a narrative around the event, and to build a unique and unrepeatable collective memory.
client: ROOM
category: Product design
