Nesta and D&AD team up to award product design

British Design & Art Direction and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts have teamed up to create an award scheme for student product designers, which was unveiled yesterday (Wednesday 13 March 2002).

The scheme seeks to recognise and reward product design talent at undergraduate and postgraduate level. It is called the D&AD Nesta Product Design and Innovation Awards.

D&AD education chairman Dick Powell says, ‘This is not just a new awards scheme conceived to mesh better with curriculum work, it’s also a tremendous first step on a route to market for the winners.’

The initiative is designed to provide financial backing and business support to help turn designs into real products, services or techniques. ‘Product design students, especially, face a difficult and lengthy obstacle course to get a job, start making their own products or just get themselves going,’ Powell says.

Three overall winners will each receive £5000 to help them develop an application for further funding through Nesta’s invention and innovation programme and an entry in the D&AD Awards (professional) Annual.

Shortlisted entrants will receive £1000 in prize money, a D&AD Student Pencil and an entry in the D&AD Student Awards Annual.

Creative briefs have been set by The Consumers’ Association, the Design Council, The Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, Ideo and the Independent Television Commission. The three briefs cover interactive digital TV, products for parents and children and a handheld object that helps people to sleep and wake.

The deadline for entries is 28 March 2003 and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in June 2003.