4,110 submissions from 54 countries entered this year’s Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2021. From an estimated 9,500 designers, involving 487 teams of designers, 410 companies, 103 design studios, and 149 institutions, the clash of ideas convened in robotics, artificial intelligence, extending from the digital realm to arts and crafts traditions. Only the best are awarded the symbol of quality for good design - the Red Dot.
A better designed tomorrow
“A concept has to pave the way for a future product—that is its most important task. In the Red Dot Award: Design Concept, we are looking for brand-new ideas with the potential to become a reality for an improved and enjoyable future. Every product and action start with a concept, and depending on how good or poor the latter is, they will—or will not—be developed and become reality.” explains Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, CEO and initiator of Red Dot.
Working towards a post pandemic way of living and adjusting to a new normal requires thinking outside the box, being at our most creative, and imagining new enabling products, services, and networks. Designers were called upon and were reflected in the search for the year’s best design concepts. “The useful and creative energies of designers were highly evident in Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2021.” Asia President of Red Dot, Mr. Ken Koo reveals, "Ranging from helping the underprivileged to space travel, numerous concepts presented to the jury explored a wider range of issues and went beyond current concerns of protecting lives or enabling a new way of living, post pandemic."
Designers celebrate
Winning designers celebrated their achievements by capturing celebratory moments with their Red Dot Certificates and with their design teams on camera. Red Dot Trophies were also seen together with Red Dot: Best of the Best winners, and were presented during the two day award celebration. Winning is never easy but always a great achievement.
Nominated design concepts for the top prize
5 exceptional design concepts were selected among the Red Dot: Best of the Best recipients and were nominated for the highest accolade given at the Red Dot Award: Design Concept - the Red Dot: Luminary. The Red Dot: Luminary is the highest level of recognition accorded at the Red Dot Award: Design Concept. It serves as an inspiration to aspire towards.
The nominees include Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle by Canoo, an all-electric commercial and small business solution purposefully designed to maximise productivity and return on investment for users; Virgin Galactic Spaceship Interior by Seymourpowell, a collaboration with Virgin Galactic on the interior design of Unity, the world's first commercial spaceship; sPEEK by Sagentia Innovation, a voice controlled surgical loupe headset that empowers clinicians to deliver uninterrupted care in procedures through handsfree control of magnification and lighting optimisation; .lumen - Glasses for the Blind by .lumen company and DESIRO Vision, a pair of glasses which mimics the helpful characteristics of a guide dog for the blind, but without the drawbacks of the non-scalable solution; and Cognixion ONE by STEL, a wearable speech generating device that enables communication via Brain Computer Interface with Augmented Reality.
Winner of Red Dot: Luminary 2021
Based in Romania, .lumen company and DESIRO Vision clinched the the top award for their design concept .lumen - Glasses for the Blind. “A design development that is scalable worldwide, and represents a quantum leap for blind people. With this high-tech glass-like tool, it is possible to give blind people some independence and a sense of security. Great idea, well designed, and a product that makes sense.” Red Dot Juror Wolfgang Meyer-Hayoz announced the winner of the Red Dot: Luminary 2021.
To be inspired, eager and excited about future innovations
All of the award-winning design concepts are published on the Red Dot Design Yearbook for Design Concept 2021/2022 and online at www.red-dot.org. The Online Exhibition serves as a reference to the best in design and details descriptions of the work and information on the designers. Keeping to traditions of the Red Dot Design Award, the winners will be exhibited at the Red Dot Design Museum Singapore. The museum is home to Red Dot Award: Design Concept and overlooks the waterfront promenade along Singapore’s Marina Bay. The Winners’ Exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum will be available in April 2022.
