Record number of participants in the red dot award: product design 2012

Today is the last day of the regular registration period for the red dot award: product design 2012. It will still be possible to register during the latecomers’ phase which runs until 8 February 2012. That is the last chance to attain what is probably the world’s most sought-after seal of quality for design, the red dot. Never in the history of the red dot design award have there been more entries by this cut-off date than this year.

The latest creations, projects and design achievements will be in the competition: from architecture projects to furniture and sportswear, from consumer electronics to IT and automotive products. The award winners will be celebrated in the magnificent Aalto-Theater in Essen on 2 July 2012. In keeping with tradition, Prof. Dr. Peter Zec will act as host to guide us through the evening. Afterwards, all of the participants are invited to the Designers’ Night in the impressive red dot design museum on the Zeche Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex. There, in the midst of the newest winning products, the party will continue into the early hours.

Why does the internationally orientated competition, organised in Germany, breaks the participation record again? CEO Prof. Dr. Peter Zec explains: “Once more, the red dot design award has won massive public visibility. Participants are already aware that every single product will be discussed individually and treated with respect. From self-employees to big corporations – they all have equal chances of being awarded. It’s strictly about the design and quality only.

In mid-February, the members of the red dot jury will travel from all over the world to gather in Essen. Prof. Dr. Florian Hufnagl, director of Die Neue Sammlung/The International Design Museum in Munich, and Ken Okuyama, a legend in the field of modern automobile design, are just two of the jury members, all of whom are already awaiting the most innovative entries with anticipation. During a judging process lasting several days, all of the works will be examined in detail for functionality and design quality.

This year, the design potential of the entries in the “Architecture and Urban Design” category will be judged by Ben van Berkel, Steve Leung and Hadi Teherani, all experts in their field. Steve Leung explains the value and unique selling point added by the red dot award as follows: “The winning works are always seen as a quality standard for good design, not just for design professionals or others involved in the industry, but also for the public at large – and that is the most important aspect”.

Because of its international reach, the renowned red dot label contributes to raising the level of awareness of a product immensely. It has been demonstrated that the red dot label ensures that a brand is associated with excellent design quality. More detailed information on taking part in the red dot award: product design 2012 is available online at www.red-dot.de/pd.

The Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen is one of the oldest and most highly reputed design institutions in Europe. And not by chance. For it is also one of the most active design institutions. Housed in the remodelled boiler house of the Zollverein colliery, which is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage industrial monument, it is also a place of pilgrimage for amateurs of culture, architecture and design throughout the world.

Achim Zolke
Head of Corporate Communications
Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen
Gelsenkirchener Str. 181
45309 Essen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)201 30 10 4-33
a.zolke@red-dot.de
www.red-dot.de/press

This release was published on openPR.