Historic joint win for Silver Jubilee edition of Dame Design Award

Historic joint win for Silver Jubilee edition of Dame Design Award © Pieter Magielsen

The prestigious DAME Design Award has gone to joint winners for the first time in its 25-year history. Jury chair Bill Dixon presented the overall DAME award to the Lume On™ LED light from Spinlock and the Electric Stabilising Fin & Interceptor System from Humphree during the opening ceremony of the METSTRADE show in RAI Amsterdam.

In something of a twist compared to every previous Dame Design Award, the Jury found itself at a stalemate when it came to deciding an overall winner between one of the lowest priced products in the room and one of the more complex entries. In the end there was only one solution – to break the competition's tradition of having just one entry take the top prize and celebrate the 25th anniversary by naming Joint Overall Winners of the DAME Design Awards 2015.

Meticulous process

"The DAME judging process is unique in that all submissions are physically studied by the ten-person jury in person," explains Sarah Westdijk, product manager of the Maritime domain at RAI Amsterdam. "This meticulous process allows them to see, feel, try and test the products in each category – a major task as there were 133 entries for this year's award. The best then went through to a second round and were subjected to even greater scrutiny before a winner was named per category. In the final round the jury then selected the two joint winners."

Spinlock's Lume-On ™ is a tiny LED light that attaches underneath the bladder of any lifejacket. When activated, it uses the bladder as a diffuser, turning the whole lifejacket into a glowing light. Designed to work alongside existing lifejacket lights and sold in pairs, the Lume-On's cleverness of thought, simplicity of application and very accessible cost was widely admired by the Jury.

The Electric Stabilising Fin & Interceptor System from Humphree was commended by the Jury for several features – the stabiliser's 24V DC servo, its 360 degrees rotating fin (to combat anchor walking), its failsafe fin attachment (designed to preserve hull integrity in case of a strike) and its full integration with interceptor trim devices. Taken as a package the system was judged as a very impressive piece of technology, which involves many design disciplines and promises a step forward in comfort afloat.

Celebrating diversity

"We were offered a particularly strong set of products to consider for the 25th anniversary of the DAME Design Awards," comments Chairman of the Jury, Bill Dixon. "It was difficult to award Category Winners due to the quality on display in the Jury room. Many of the entries required a lot of discussion before we could reach a consensus – even the Special Mentions were really hard earned. This was an appropriate way to celebrate the strength and diversity of design effort that visitors will witness for themselves as they walk around the METSTRADE show."

All the category winners will be presented in depth as part of the InnovationLAB concept at the event. As always, however, the winner – or in this case, the winners – will embark on a journey that will see them gain global renown.

"This year's DAME entrants provide a strong indicator that the industry is investing in product development for the future," concludes Dixon. "There is a lot of good thinking and innovative design ideas coming through across the board. We look forward to seeing even more exhibitors participate next year to further challenge our highly experienced jury, whose professional knowledge spans everything from naval architecture, interior design, end-user application and boat manufacturing to industrial design."

This year's Category winners

Marine electronics and marine related software:
Simrad HALO Pulse Compression Radar
Stand 01.120, 01.147

Interior equipment, furnishing, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins:
WAECO CRX-80S 0
Stand 01.615

Marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials:
Tru-Design Load Bearing Collar
Stand 02.224

Deck equipment, sails and rigging:
NautiBuoy Marine Multi-functional Inflatable Platforms
Stand 09.701

Clothing and crew accessories:
Henri Lloyd Flex 3D Jacket
Stand 3.105

Lifesaving and safety equipment:
Spinlock Lume-On
Stand 03.300

Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings:
Humphree Electric Stabilising Fin & Interceptor
Stand 11.004

Joint Overall DAME Design Award Winners:
Humphree Electric Stabilising Fin & Interceptor System
Spinlock Lume-On ™

Special mentions

Marine electronics and marine related software:
Navionics Dock-to-dock Autorouting
Stand 2.432
FLIR AX8 Marine Thermal Monitoring System
Stand 1.111

Interior equipment, furnishing, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins:
Solgaz flameless gas hob GPC-2
Stand 11.804

Deck Equipment, sails and rigging:
Colligo Marine ELHF, Extra Light Headsail Furling system
Stand 1.111
Lewmar EasyAir
Stand 11.003, 11.101
Spinlock Rig-Sense
Stand 03.300

Clothing and crew accessories:
TackingMaster by IDFX
Stand 02.124

Lifesaving and safety equipment:
Regatta AD EXPLORER floatation vest
Stand 09.303

Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings:
Van Oossanen Hull Vane
Stand 10.618

The awards

The 25th anniversary DAME Design Award competition attracted 110 products from 24 countries. A total of 51 products were shortlisted for final consideration and these are the 'Nominated' products that appear on the DAME stand at the METSTRADE show that will last until Thursday 19 November. The Jury then selected joint Overall DAME Winners, together with seven outright Category Winners and nine Special Mentions.

The DAME Awards brings together many of the important global marine product launches of the year with world-recognised experts in boat and industrial design and construction, industry consultants and experienced end users. The aim of the competition is to promote and highlight the total use of design throughout a product's lifecycle, from conception, to manufacturing and experience in the hands of intended users. The Jury also considers overall impact on the marine industry, suitability for intended purpose, the level of innovation, the product's cost effectiveness and its environmental impact.