Jury selects nominations for 25th DAME Design Award

DAME Jury 2015 © METS

Some 51 products have been nominated to go forward for final judging by the Jury of the silver jubilee edition of the prestigious DAME Design Award competition. The products have been selected from a total of 108 entries from 24 nationalities and the jury will eventually choose up to seven Category Winners and one Overall Winner. These will be announced during the Breakfast Briefing on the opening day of the METSTRADE show 2015, which takes place from 17 to 19 November in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. The nominated products are now available on metstrade.com.

The DAME Design Award was initiated in 1991 to promote design across all disciplines and recognise the best-designed products at the METSTRADE exhibition. Now, 25 years on, this special anniversary edition of the competition is as relevant as ever in highlighting the importance of design for all marine products, from function to aesthetics and from packaging to the end product. The DAME Jury also considers the expected impact on the marine industry of entries, their suitability for intended purpose, the level of innovation, the cost effectiveness and environmental impact.

A world of innovation

The DAME 2015 received 108 entries from 92 companies, representing 24 nations from around the world. The Overall Winner and Category Winners will be announced at the ICOMIA-METSTRADE show Breakfast Briefing. This will be held in the Forum of RAI Amsterdam before the official opening of the METSTRADE show on Tuesday 17 November at 08:00. Products considered exceptional that do not win the award in their category may be given a Special Mention.

In the spotlight

Nominated and winning products will be on display during the METSTRADE show as part of a special presentation near to Entrance C. The category winners and overall winner will also be featured in an information display within the InnovationLAB and all winning companies will also present their products on the InnovationLAB ON STAGE in the Elicium. Past and current jury members and representatives from winning companies over the past quarter of a century will meet at a special 25th anniversary reception on Tuesday 17 November.

Tough choices

Commenting after a particularly long and thought-provoking nomination day, the Chairman of the DAME Awards Jury, Bill Dixon, explained how the process of judging entries this year had been challenging due to the strength of the products: "In several of the categories we found many well-designed items to consider, with prices ranging from just a few euros through to high-priced specialist equipment. The range of contenders provoked different responses from each member of our highly experienced jury, whose professional knowledge spans everything from naval architecture, interior design, end-user application and boat manufacturing to industrial design. We eventually reached a consensus, but only after a great deal of discussion!"

"There is a lot of good thinking and innovative design effort coming through across the board," Dixon adds. "After a day surrounded by products of this quality, you reach the inevitable conclusion that the marine industry is gearing up for the future. This is really encouraging – and a fitting way to celebrate 25 years of the DAME Awards."

DAME categories

The DAME jury carefully assesses entries for design in all of its aspects, including aesthetics, usability, build quality, functionality and use of materials. Other factors taken into account are originality and the price-to-quality ratio. The shortlisted products are divided into seven categories:

1. Marine electronics and marine related software
2. Interior equipment, furnishings, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins
3. Marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials
4. Deck equipment, sails and rigging
5. Clothing and crew accessories
6. Lifesaving and safety equipment
7. Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings

This year's DAME jury is made up of 10 leading industry experts:

• Mr. Bill Dixon, Dixon Yacht Design, United Kingdom – Chairman of the DAME Jury:
• Mr. Torsten Conradi, Judel/Vrolijk & co, Engineering GmbH, President DBSV, Germany:
• Mr. Japec Jakopin, J&J Design, Slovenia:
• Mr. Dennis O'Neill, Associate Editor, IBI Magazine, United Kingdom:
• Mr. Andrea Frabetti, CEO, Diesel Centre S.p.A, Italy:
• Mr. Jean Francois de Prémorel, Beneteau Groupe, France:
• Mr. Arjen Jansen, TU Delft, University of Technology, The Netherlands:
• Mr. Nigel Calder, Independent technical marine journalist, USA:
• Mr. Patrick Hemp, ICOMIA, United Kingdom:
• Ms. Birgit Schnaase, Innenarchitektin, Schnaase Interior Design, Germany

About the METSTRADE show

The METSTRADE show is the flagship event of METSTRADE, the world's leading platform for professionals in the leisure marine equipment industry. The world's largest trade exhibition of equipment, materials and systems for the international marine leisure industry is organised by RAI Amsterdam in association with of ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations). The METSTRADE show features conferences, events and three dedicated specialist pavilions: the SuperYacht Pavilion, the Marina & Yard Pavilion and the Construction Material Pavilion.