Designs of the Year is the Design Museum’s exhibition of innovative, interesting and forward-looking design
It’s that time of the year again when London’s Design Museum launches its annual Designs of the Year award.
Now in its eighth year, these international awards celebrate design globally featuring ‘superstar’ designers alongside those that are lesser known.
There are 76 projects that have been nominated across six categories including architecture, digital, fashion, product, graphics and transport.
In the product design category there are 22 nominated projects. We have selected 10 below. Take a look and decide whether they are worthy of the jury’s vote.
AIR-PURIFYING BILLBOARD
Designed by the University of Engineering and Technology of Peru
This ordinary-looking billboard can in fact attract and filter pollution from the sky, returning purified air to the surrounding area at a rate of 100,000 cubic metres per day.
BRCK
Designed by team at BRCK
Designed and prototyped in Nairobi, Kenya, this rugged, self-powered, mobile WiFi device connects people and things to the internet in areas of the world with poor infrastructure.
THE BRYDGEAIR
Designed by team at BrydgeAir
An iPad keyboard which works with both the iPad Air and the iPad Air 2, the BrydgeAir is intended to be ‘the missing half the iPad.’ Forged out of a single piece of aluminium, it features backlit keys, dual stereo speakers and a unique hinge.
CURRENT TABLE
Designed by Marjan Van Aubel in collaboration with Solaronix
The surface of this glass table contains a Dye Sensitised Solar Cell that harvests energy from daylight to charge appliances.
DIY GAMER KIT
Designed by Technology Will Save Us
Using this kit users can build their own handheld games console from scratch, then code and invent their own games using the kit’s custom software and the open-source platform, Arduino, so all of the code is freely available.
DOUBLE O
Designed by Paul Cocksedge Studio
With an in-built hard-wearing, flexible strap this bike light can be attached to a bike, bag or helmet delivering light that is bright but not blinding to other road users.
‘GROW IT YOURSELF’ MUSHROOM MATERIALS
Designed by Ecovative
Ecovative use fungal mycelium, the root-like structure of a mushroom, to glue together agricultural wastes into high-performing and sustainable products.
KANO COMPUTER KIT
Designed by Kano and Map
Kano is a computer and coding kit for all ages, all over the world. It is as simple as Lego and powered by Raspberry Pi. All elements of the kit were designed from scratch to create a unified experience and to be playful and desirable for children and young adults.
PROJECT DANIEL: 3D PRINTING LIMBS
Designed by Mick Ebeling / Not Impossible
Project Daniel is the world’s first 3D-printing prosthetic lab, set up by Not Impossible founder Mick Ebeling after he saw footage of a teenager who lost both arms when a bomb went off while he was tending his parents’ cattle.
LOOPWHEELS (this products is actually featured in the Transport category)
Designed by Sam Pearce for Jelly Products
This wheel, designed for bicycles and wheelchairs, features a spring system with three loops made from a carbon composite material that springs allowing the hub to float within the rigid rim of the wheel, constantly adjusting to the terrain.
For a full list of the nominees in all categories, visit here.
The nominated projects will be showcased in an exhibition running from 25 March to 23 August.
