Montreal (Canada) – On the occasion of World Industrial Design Day, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) is proud to announce, the launch of the online gallery for the inaugural World Design Impact Prize. Through this groundbreaking new project, created to recognise, empower and stimulate socially responsible design projects around the world, the public is encouraged to visit the interactive gallery at www.worlddesignimpact.org to view, share and discuss for their favourite project, which have been selected following the international call for nominations earlier this year.
Following an evaluation period confirming each project’s focus on responsible design, innovation, progress and impact, a total of 22 projects from five continents remain in the running to be recognised as the first World Design Impact Prize winner. From student-made product designs introducing dynamic and sustainable solutions, to internationally renowned initiatives striving to improve quality of life, Icsid Members nominated a diverse group of industrial design driven projects that are all currently visible for the public to browse, share and vote for their favourite.
“We strongly believe that the key element of the World Design Impact Prize that makes it one of the most relevant, inclusive and unique design prizes in the world is the involvement of our members and the public at large,” stated Icsid President Dr. Mark Breitenberg. “By showcasing these remarkable projects to the public through an interactive and sharable online gallery, we hope to assist them in gaining widespread recognition and receiving support they need to continue their pursuit of bettering the world through design.”
What: World Design Impact Prize public review process
Where: www.worlddesignimpact.org
When: 29 June (World Industrial Design Day) – 30 August 2011
The World Design Impact Prize was established by Icsid for the purpose of recognising, empowering and stimulating socially responsible design initiatives around the world that use design and/or design thinking to make a positive impact on our social, economic, cultural and/or environmental quality of life. Nominations were gathered from around the globe as Icsid Member organisations were asked to put forward nominations for projects they believe deserve to be recognised with the World Design Impact Prize.
On 29 July 2011, one month after the opening of the public review process, official voting will commence. With a jury consisting of over 160 Icsid Member organisations, each being permitted to cast one vote for their organisation, the voting to determine the inaugural World Design Impact Prize winner will bring together an unprecedented group of thought leaders, pioneers and educators from the international industrial design community.
The voting stage will be followed by the announcement of the five shortlisted projects on 27-28 October 2011 at the XXVII Icsid General Assembly in Taipei, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) directly following the 2011 International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress being held in the same city between 24-26 October.
The World Design Impact Prize will culminate in the announcement of the Prize winner on 2 February 2012.
For more information, please contact:
Tu Tram Pham
Icsid Online Communications Officer
t: + 1 514 448 4949 ext. 229
e: tpham@icsid.org
Links
World Design Impact Prize
World Industrial Design Day
2011 IDA Congress
World Design Capital
About the World Design Impact Prize
The World Design Impact Prize is a biennial designation created to recognise, empower and stimulate socially responsible design projects around the world. Established by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), the World Design Impact Prize will honour and reward industrial design driven projects that are making a positive impact on our social, economic, cultural and/or environmental quality of life.
By drawing from the expertise of Icsid’s network, the World Design Impact Prize creates an exciting opportunity for members and the general public to play an active role in recognising and honouring projects, and project partners, that create a better world through design. Furthermore, the establishment of a prize specifically for industrial design driven projects will produce tangible examples, best practices and socially responsible industrial designs that will help shape the future of the profession.
About World Industrial Design Day (29 June)
World Industrial Design Day (WIDD) is observed annually on 29 June in recognition of the profession of industrial design. First declared in 2007 on the occasion of Icsidʼs 50th anniversary, WIDD has been established with the aim of promoting awareness of the profession of industrial design, highlighting the contribution designers and academics have made to the discipline and facilitating collaborations that help improve economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life throughout the world.
Through a series of international events on 29 June, initiated by Icsid Members and non-members alike, World Industrial Design Day provides designers and like-minded design enthusiasts from a wide spectrum of professions with a channel to engage with one another. Events such as sustainability workshops, exhibitions, international symposiums on socially responsible design, webcasts, free admission to museums and Icsidʼs international student poster competition are but a few of the commemorative activities that World Industrial Design Day has inspired throughout the world.
