Judges Gear Up For Annual James Dyson Award

Judges Gear Up For Annual James Dyson Award

Leading New Zealand Designers, David Lovegrove and Kent Sneddon, have been appointed judges in this year’s James Dyson Award which recognises emerging industrial design engineers.

The Award is open to any student of design (or graduate within four years of graduation) studying in the areas of design, technology or engineering.

Last year, an ultrasound tool designed to quickly measure the commercial worth of forests was chosen as the winner.

Head Judge, David Lovegrove, who is returning to the Awards for a fourth year, has worked in the design industry for over 18 years.

His career began at New Zealand’s iconic Fisher and Paykel, then continued overseas where he designed for Swatch, Telecom, Phillips, Lucent-Bell Labs and several Formula 1 teams.

After returning to New Zealand, he founded 4ormfunction in 1999 which specialises in researching, envisaging, creating and commercialising ideas into successful products. David currently holds a number of patents, serves on several boards and has been a council member of the Designers Institute of New Zealand.

David said he is looking forward to judging the Awards again.

“Last year, the standard was very high so it will be interesting to see what’s on offer this time round.”

Fellow judge Kent Sneddon has been the head designer at Methven since 2006 where he designs and makes showerheads, faucets and hot water valves.

Kent said he would be on the look out for students who show real promise in creating innovative products that solve problems and make products even better.

“The Award is all about finding and recognising real talent and inspiring young people who are already passionate about design engineering.”

Kent’s interest in design has taken him around the world carrying out research into understanding what designs motivate and drive consumer behaviour.

He studied at Wellington Polytechnic before moving to Auckland in 1995 to work for Peter Haythornthwaite Design.

Kent also worked at Fisher and Paykel for 10 years and has worked on a number of award winning design projects ranging from remote controls, consumer goods, signage, agricultural vehicles, exhibit spaces and furniture.

The winner of New Zealand’s 2010 James Dyson Award will receive a prize package from The British Council comprising travel to the UK with $3,000 spending money and accommodation in London, plus they will meet with key members of the UK design community and tour Dyson’s world class design facility. The winner will also receive $3,000 legal or business advice from Auckland firm, Farry.Co, an official fee prize package from IPONZ tailored to the winner’s immediate intellectual property needs, and a year’s membership to the Design Institute of New Zealand (DINZ).

Aside from David Lovegrove and Kent Sneddon, a representative from the British Council of New Zealand will also form part of this year’s judging panel.

British Council NZ Director Ingrid Leary said their representative will look for interpersonal qualities as well as talent in design.

"The winner has to be someone who can seize the opportunities available to them when they travel to Britain. Their design skills will be all-important, but at the end of the day they also have to show promise as someone who can articulate their vision for a product -- someone who will impress the high-powered British design bosses whom they will get to meet on their winner's tour."

The James Dyson Award in New Zealand, formerly the Dyson Product Design Award, was set up by Avery Robinson Ltd - distributors of Dyson in New Zealand. The New Zealand Award is hosted in association with the British Council New Zealand, DINZ, Farry.Co Law and IPONZ.

The Award is supported by the James Dyson Foundation, a registered charity whose aim is to inspire and excite young people about design engineering.

Applications for the 2010 James Dyson Award close on Thursday 1 July 2010. For further information, go to www.jamesdysonaward.org.

ENDS

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