Montreal (Canada) – The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) has today launched the third cycle of the World Design Impact Prize, which recognises and encourages industrial design driven projects that support Icsid’s vision to create a better world through design.
Designers and design enthusiasts alike are invited to nominate projects from around the world that have a positive impact on our social, cultural, economic and environmental quality of life. Nominations will be accepted via the worlddesignimpact.org website from 12 May to 29 July 2015.
“The World Design Impact Prize nominees create an impressive list of examples showcasing how industrial designers can —and do— play a critical role in tackling the world’s most complex problems head on,” said Icsid President Dr. Brandon Gien.
In the last cycle, 26 projects were nominated from around the globe covering medical technology, irrigation systems, smartphone apps and livestock care, to name but a few. Of those, seven were shortlisted by a panel of experts and voted on by Icsid’s Members. Designated the winner in February 2014, A Behaviour Changing (ABC) Syringe features a simple colour-changing label that turns bright red in the case of prior use, alerting anyone coming in contact with the syringe to be careful. The project aims to combat the reuse of disposable syringes and estimates indicate that within five years of launch, this design could reduce unsafe injections by 700 000 in India alone.
“Since the World Design Impact Prize, public exposure of our project and the complex challenge it sought to highlight and address has gathered pace,” said Dr. David Swann, designer of the ABC Syringe. “I think initiatives like these are invaluable in showing the potential for design to have an impact, and not just through tangible products and services that better peoples’ lives, but through the power of ideas to effect mass change.”
In 2012, the first World Design Impact Prize was awarded to The Community Cooker, an installation that recycles waste into energy, providing a fuel efficient and economical cooking and hot water supply system. This in turn has a significant impact in the informal settlements where the cooker is installed by providing a cleaner healthier environment as well as income generation possibilities. The Community Cooker in Laini Saba, Nairobi (Kenya) can cook 77 litres of food and heat 800 litres of water in just two hours.
Nominated projects should be socially beneficial and industrial design driven. They should use design thinking and showcase the expanded field of industrial design, to include the design of systems and experiences.
The eligibility and evaluation criteria, the online nomination form and galleries of past nominated projects can all be found on the World Design Impact Prize website at worlddesignimpact.org.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Sarah Montpetit
Icsid Communications Coordinator
t: + 1 514 448 4949 ext. 238
e: smontpetit@icsid.org
About the World Design Impact Prize
The World Design Impact Prize is a biennial award created to recognise and encourage industrial design driven projects that benefit society. Established in 2011 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), the Prize creates an exciting opportunity for industrial designers from around the world to present their work to the Icsid Membership, representing more than 160 organisations across six continents
About the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid)
The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) is a non-profit organisation that protects and promotes the interests of the profession of industrial design. Founded in 1957, Icsid serves as a unified voice of over 50 nations through which members can express their views and be heard on an international platform. Since its inception, Icsid has continued to develop its wide-reaching network of students and professionals devoted to the recognition, success and growth of the industrial design community. Together, professional associations, promotional societies, educational institutions, government bodies and corporations create a comprehensive and diverse system on the forefront of industrial design education and progress.