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Press Release

DesignNewswire · COMO, Italy ·

Onyx Backpack by Ana Golubic Brozovic Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Fashion and Travel Accessories Design

Ana Golubic Brozovic honored for fashion and travel accessories design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ Onyx Backpack by Ana Golubic Brozovic has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Fashion and Travel Accessories Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

What the Bronze A' Design Award Means

The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

Regarding Onyx Backpack

The multifunctional design packed into a clear, simple shape is what makes the Onyx backpack unique and timeless. Onyx is expertly crafted from smooth leather and free from any additional heavy details. In the centre of the rectangular shell is a zipper that follows the whole length of the backpack. Two adjustable handles are strategically placed and can be turned so that the zipper faces the back of the person wearing it. This way entrance into the backpack becomes hidden and protected. The backpack becomes a safe and protected little cave.

About Ana Golubic Brozovic

Ana Golubic Brozovic is the Founder and Fashion Designer of BAGGIZ, a creative design company based in Croatia. After graduating at The Faculty For Textile Technology And Design in Zagreb, Ana gathered some experience as a freelance accessories, fashion and costume designer. In 2006 she decided to dedicate herself full time into her own company. For her designs Ana says: "I really and honestly stand behind each and every one of my creations. I love minimalistic, simple and clean cuts combined with unexpected details and made in high-quality materials. I believe good design is a perfect balance of function and love at first sight."

Award Record

With this recognition, Ana Golubic Brozovic is a winner of 3 A' Design Awards. The awards span the editions from 2015 - 2016 to 2024 - 2025 of the A' Design Award & Competition.

About the A' Fashion and Travel Accessories Design Award

The A' Accessory Design Award is an international fashion design competition recognizing good accessory designs by leading designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to accessory designers, fashion designers, travel accessory designers and luxury goods manufacturers from all countries. Entries typically include handbags, scarves, belts, luggage, hats and travel bags. Awarded accessory designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/accessory

About A' Design Award & Competition

A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project
Onyx Backpack
Function
Backpack
Category
Fashion and Travel Accessories Design
Discipline
Fashion Design
Industry
Fashion and Luxury
Colors
Light Slate Gray, Slate Gray, Cadet Blue, Dark Slate Gray and White
Images
5

The Recognition

Laureate
Ana Golubic Brozovic
Country
Croatia
Recognition
Bronze A' Design Award
Edition
2024 - 2025
Design ID
#167123

Credits

Image Credits
Image #No 1: Photographer Mare Milin, Komad Collection, 2018., Images #No 2 - #No 5: Photographer Tomislav Brozović, Onyx, 2025.

Design Details

Unique Properties
Onyx, the minimalist style backpack, represents timeless design. Simple lines accentuate and pay respect to the beauty of high quality leather material. There are no heavy details, only functional design solutions. In the centre of rectangular shell is a zipper that follows the whole length of the backpack. Two adjustable handles are strategically placed and can be turned so that the zipper faces the back of the person wearing it.This way entrance into the backpack becomes hidden and protected.
Inspiration
During everyday comute on public transport or while traveling abroad, I was often faced with safety of personal belongings. Backpack is always my first choice regarding the type of bag I carry around. It keeps my hands free, it is practical, it sits carefree on my back. Which is also a problem because its opening is out of my sight. That is how the idea of "hidden" zipper came to my mind. And it had to be packed into stylish, minimal design which adapts easily into many fashion styles.
Research
Multifunctional, minimal design that gives more than eye can see is easily adapted into many styles. By removing all unnecessary details, what we have left is pure, simple design with accent on the raw material. I can choose if I want to make the big zipper visible and part of the design or I can hide it and leave only material and connecting stich to be seen. This is not just a visual decision it is also the one regarding safety of my belongings.
Challenge
I had an idea what the backpack should look like, I also knew how I want to make it multifunctional. It had to be practical and also look nice. Outside features were as equally important as inside performances and durability. Designing and prototype production was first challenge. Next challenge I faced was finding high quality leather, and last one was finding small family production willing to produce it. When all those challenges were met and successfully fulfilled, Onyx was ready for public.
Realization and Technology
In production we put our biggest efforts into creating as little waste as possible, 0% is our goal. That is why cut has to be thought thru very carefully. Onyx cut is simple: two rectangular pieces for the shell, two long and one short stripe for the handles. Shell is padded with heavy cotton lining which has two small pockets. All these pieces are flexible and can easily be fit into the material so there is almost no waste. Onyx comes in real leather or eco, vegan leather version.
Operation and Interaction
Multifunctional designs have always been my passion, and when they are supported by high quality materials and made in nature and human friendly environment, they become eternal. They live forever. Onyx is not only a backpack, it is also a safe little cave for all our daily necessities. He is our loyal companion in everyday life from work to casual stroll, from sightseeing to evening in the club. Onyx is not just a bag, it is important and precious addition to our lifestyle.
Project Duration and Location
The project started June 2024 and was finalised in July 2024, in Cakovec, Croatia.
Specifications
Dimensions of ONYX are: Width 300 mm, Depth 70 mm, Height 400 mm. Two longer handles are adjustable in length: 500 - 1100 mm. Short handle is 300 mm long.
Keywords
backpack, bag, simplicity, multifunctional, minimal design, raw material, leather, vegan leather, responsible, long lasting, eternal, fair made, safe

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