James Dyson Award 2013 now open with double the prize fund

Thursday, 21 March 2013

James Dyson Award 2013 is now open with double the prize fund at $175,000

The 2013 international James Dyson Award is open for entries. James Dyson is challenging young engineers and scientists in New Zealand and around the world to ‘design something that solves a problem.’

This year the award’s prize fund has doubled to help winners meet the costs associated with developing their ideas. The international winner will receive $55,000[1] to develop their invention, and a further $18,000[2] will be provided to their educational institution.

James Dyson said: “Young design engineers have the ability to develop tangible technologies, which can change lives. The award rewards those who have the persistence and tenacity to develop their ideas – it is an exciting but challenging process. Often the simplest ideas have the biggest impact.”

The Award is run in eighteen countries and celebrates ingenuity, creativity and sustainable engineering. Inspiring young people to think differently and invent.

Inventors are encouraged to design and develop their ideas, doing more with less. This leads to fewer raw materials and the consumption of less energy, creating a technology that will perform better and last longer, while having less environmental impact.

One of the judges in the New Zealand leg of the competition, British Council New Zealand Country Director, Ingrid Leary, said the New Zealand judges will look for interpersonal qualities as well as talent in design.

“While judges will be looking at whether the designs solve a problem, the entrant’s ability to articulate their vision and creativity will also be an important factor of the judging criteria."

Last year’s international winner, Dan Watson, engineered a device to increase the sustainability of fishing. Dan has now gone on to further prototype and test his invention. Ideas and the development of new technology is fast paced and Dan continues to work on his winning entry alongside many of his other projects in development.

New Zealand industrial designer, James McNab was the international runner up with his design, Revival Vest, a safety vest worn by free fall divers. Many divers have drowned after blacking out whilst under water. Revival vest uses smart fabric technology to monitor respiration and changes to the body caused by the stress of drowning. Once it detects a change, Revival Vest inflates bringing the user safely to the surface.

Entrants have until August 2013 to enter by submitting prototypes along with stories detailing their design process and inspiration.

New Zealand’s national winner will be announced in mid-August and the international winner, on 7 November. The New Zealand winner will travel to the UK to meet with key members of the British design community.

The James Dyson Award in New Zealand is hosted in association with Dyson in New Zealand, British Council New Zealand, The Designers Institute and IPONZ.

To enter, or for more information about the award visit www.jamesdysonaward.org

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