Matrix Muse for Digital Mastery
The Digital Award
Crystal Code Captured
Tjep.’s Digital Award, also called the Immaterial Trophy, transforms the intangible world of information and communication technology (ICT) into a striking object. Designed by Frank Tjepkema for Amsterdam’s Koos Andriessen ICT Award between 2003 and 2005, this piece celebrates digital innovation with a physical form that resonates with clarity and purpose.
Matrix-Inspired Victory
Carved from a solid block of optical crystal glass, the trophy stands 20–30 cm tall, its clear surfaces catching and bending light. A 3D laser engraving inside recreates The Matrix’s cascading binary code—0s and 1s forming a ghostly victory cup with handles, stem, and base. The design nods to Amsterdam’s digital legacy, embedding local context within its precise etchings.
Binary to Trophy Form
The engraving shifts from dense, chaotic digits at the base to a structured cup shape above, mirroring how raw data becomes meaningful innovation. Light through the crystal creates a holographic glow, evoking digital circuitry or glitches, blending weightlessness with solidity. Each trophy is crafted with care, its polished edges inviting touch.
Light’s Digital Dance
This isn’t just an award—it’s a statement on ICT’s invisible power, frozen in crystal to honor pioneers like Koos Andriessen. As Frank Tjepkema puts it, “We turned fleeting code into a lasting symbol of progress.” Given to ICT leaders, its limited editions are prized by recipients and collectors.
Tjep.’s ICT Tribute
Created for the Koos Andriessen ICT Award, the Digital Award showcases Tjep.’s knack for blending concept with craft. It’s a trophy that doubles as a meditation on technology, where code, light, and glass converge to celebrate digital breakthroughs with timeless elegance.