Which hot designer would you choose?

SA designer Aidan Bennetts opened the Aidan Bennetts Design Studio in 2005 upon completion of a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Cape Town. Within four months, he secured a valuable contract to develop the interiors for Haiku restaurant, and more major projects followed. His weekly appearances on Top Billing as well as extensive media exposure for his product and interior designs have ensured that Aidan is a household name in South Africa.
www.aidanbennetts.co.za

Principal of Alejandro Aravena Architects and executive director of Elemental, a do-tank focusing on social-impact projects, Alejandro Aravena was named one of 20 essential young architects by Icon magazine. He also won a Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2008. In 2009, he won the Marcus Prize for Architecture, and received one of RIBA's ten 2010 international fellowships.
www.alejandroaravena.com

Exploring products and raw materials in unusually thoughtful ways, Christien Meindertsma's work aims to regain an understanding of processes that have become unfamiliar to us due to industrialisation. Her latest book, PIG 05049, explores the astounding array of products made from the different parts of a pig. The book won three Dutch Design Awards (2008), an Index: Design Award (2009) and was nominated for a Rotterdam Design Prize.
www.christienmeindertsma.com

Edward Barber, along with colleague Jay Osgerby, established BarberOsgerby in 1996. From their studio in West London, they first designed the Loop Table, which went into production in 1997. The table was featured widely and brought them to the attention of Giolio Cappellini. A long working relationship with the famous Italian producer followed. This design team has also developed products for Authentics, Levi-Strauss and Magis and has worked on conceptual projects for Dornbracht and Abet Laminati. A green version of their Iris table is pictured above.
www.barberosgerby.com

After graduating at the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2000, Marije Vogelzang set her mind on creating a new direction in the field of design. She started Proef in 2004 in Rotterdam and expanded this food-design laboratory to Amsterdam in 2006. In 2010, she started Studio Marije Vogelzang alongside Proef. Marije, who is inspired by all things associated with the act of eating, is now considered to be the world's "grande dame" of eating design.
www.marijevogelzang.nl

SA architect Mokena Makeka believes in designing buildings that outlive their owners and he claims that a building's legacy is at the heart of sustainable architecture. His commitment to creating relevant, interactive public spaces can be seen through the revamped Cape Town Station. The highlight of his career so far? Being handpicked along with 99 architects from around the world to design luxury villas in China.
www.makekadesigns.com

Patricia Urquiola's name is synonymous with high-end product design. She is best known for her collaboration with major international brands such as Moroso, B&B Italia, Alessi, Foscarini, Kartell and Flos. Patricia, who has won several international design awards, was born in Oviedo, Spain, and now lives and works in Milan. She began training as a student in architecture at the Faculdad de Arquitectura de Madrid before graduating in design from Politecnico di Milano in 1989.
www.patriciaurquiola.com