The Topic: EcoDesign: Form Follows Sustainability
Last day for submissions: December 21, 2007

Munich, October 24, 2007: For the fourth year running, the VOLVO Car Corporation Gothenburg is staging the VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD in cooperation with ispo, the international sports goods trade fair set to take place in Munich from January 27-30, 2008. The theme of ispo winter 08 is EcoDesign: Form Follows Sustainability.

In this time of climate change and efforts to protect our global resources, sustainability in design is a more vital topic than ever. Environmental issues and the availability of resources are changing the way we design, the materials we choose and the manufacturing strategies we adopt. With every passing day, these concerns become more relevant to companies and customers alike. 

“There’s no business to be done on a dead planet!”  This forward-thinking statement voiced by Patagonia Vice President Rick Ridgeway at the VOLVO SportsDesign FORUM 2007 illustrates just how important it is to push forward on issues such as sustainable development and the production of goods and services in a manner that is both environmentally and socially aware. Bringing together ecology, economy and social factors is one of the great challenges of our day: Tomorrow’s products must be designed and produced in a way that is health-conscious, long-lasting, reparable, re-usable, easy to dismantle, recyclable and discardable without causing harm.

That’s why “EcoDesign: Form Follows Sustainability” is the theme for the VOLVO SportsDesign Award 2008. Now in its fourth year, the award honors top-notch design concepts and new, future-oriented ideas following a common goal: the development of an approach to SportsDesign that is as eco- and  resource-friendly as it is cutting-edge and functional.

Eligible participants include members of the sporting goods industry, designers and students in the following categories: ski equipment, outdoor equipment, apparel, wheelers, accessories and concepts. The jury presents awards and distinctions in all six major categories and will also issue a special prize for students.

Special Prize for Young Designers and Material Developers
The Concepts category is open exclusively to students and young designers in their first two years of professional work. It’s a platform for outstanding and innovative concepts; entries for the €5,000 prize may be turned in as prototypes or drawings.

And for the first time, designers, industry players and developers will compete for a prize in the category Material Technology / Radical Solutions for a concept that brings together environmentally sustainable or new materials with the demands of EcoDesign.


The Categories

1. Ski Equipment (skis, ski boots, ski bindings, ski accessories, etc)
2. Board equipment (snowboards, surfboards, kiteboards, boots, bindings, board-accessories, etc)
3. Outdoor equipment (climbing hardware and gear, backpacks, footwear and equipment for
trekking, running, Nordic sports, etc)
4. Apparel (jackets, pants, shorts, shirts, etc)
5. Wheelers (bikes, skateboards, inline skates, electronic vehicles and all variants)
6. Accessories (helmets and hats, glasses and goggles, gloves, protection accessories, watches,
electronic devices, bags, etc)
7. Concepts (students only)
8. Special Category Material Technology / Radical Solutions


Apply Now

The application deadline is December 21, 2007. Information on rules, terms and conditions and judging criteria are available at www.ispo-sportsdesign.com. Participants can also choose to enter online.
 
International Jury for the Volvo SportsDesign Award 2008 EcoDesign

In January 2008, the special independent jury will gather in private — along with experts from the fields of science, industry, design and sports — to pick their favorites. The jury’s criteria are functionality, graphic composition, innovation, ergonomics, form and fabrication. Regarding ecological and sustainable design, the jury will be considering each product’s materials, production, distribution, lifecycle, re-usability and its application.

Winning entries will be showcased at a specially designed exhibition at the VOLVO SportsDesign FORUM in Munich on January 1, 2008 as part of the ispo sports goods fair.

And the VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD 2008 goes to…
On January 29, 2008, winners will be honored at a special award ceremony as part of the VOLVO SportsDesign FORUM. Handpicked guests will be drawn from the fields of design, sports, economy, science, environment and the media as well as participants and speakers from the VOLVO SportsDesign FORUM. Tickets for the event at ICM in Munich on January 29, 2008, are available online at www.ispo-sportsdesign.com.

Every winner will receive a specially designed award sculpture on the occasion of ispo winter 08 and ispo sport & style 08. Each winning product will also be featured in a two-page spread in the VOLVO SportsDesign Award Yearbook.

All nominees will also be showcased during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In January 2005, the VOLVO Car Corporation Gothenburg and ispo Munich, the world’s largest sports goods and fashion fair, brought to life the VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD. The competition honors outstanding sports products with an innovative edge or notable design. The VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD has become one of the most sought-after distinctions for industry representatives, designers and students.

More information on the VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD 2008 — and on the VOLVO SportsDesign FORUM 2008 on “EcoDesign: Form Follows Sustainability” — are available at www.ispo-sportsdesign.com