Winners of the DAME design awards 2016 announced

Bill Dixon, chairman of the jury, presented the prestigious DAME Award 2016 at the METS trade show to Torqeedo GmbH for its Cruise FP range of electric saildrives, with a further 28 products from companies across the globe named as category winners and commended with special mentions.

©NFP

The Cruise FP from electric propulsion pioneer Torqeedo has been celebrated as an exciting development that will promote green boating and create exciting new opportunities too for the interior design of sailing yachts by removing the need for a traditional engine space aft of the companionway.

Electric motors for sailboats are smaller, lighter and more economical than ever. Torqeedo’s Cruise FP models are ‘exceptionally small and lightweight’. An 8 HP equivalent weighs just 15.8 kg. Quiet, eco-friendly, recharging under sail, Cruise FPs offer high-tech convenience. Throttle and UI designs are sleek and functional.

The DAME awards jury of eight industry experts said the Cruise FP offers performance and pricing that is equitable with conventional internal combustion engine powered saildrives, and made adoption of ecological auxiliary power solutions a very practical proposition for a wide range of sailboats and inland craft.

They praised the Cruise FP for its beautiful engineering and close attention to detail design, its integrated approach, its compact dimensions and its market realistic price.

Chairman of the jury Bill Dixon said: ‘All of the DAME award metrics this year are up, from the number of entries, to the percentage of those entries nominated for final judgement.

‘The fact that we have awarded category wins and special mentions to so many products this year illustrates the high quality and broad variety of entries from across the globe that were offered for consideration.

‘In the marine industry we collectively need to make boating much more fun for the end user. To do that we need products that are interesting and make boating easier, exciting, enjoyable, comfortable and less stressful.

‘This year’s DAME 2016 awards provides great cause for believing we are heading in the right direction; our winner this year is a brilliant example of how true innovation, advances in technology and application of design will push boating ahead.’

This year’s category winners

Airmar Technology DX900+ MultiLog
(Marine electronics and marine related software)
B.C.M Illuminazione srl JOLLY ROGER
(Interior equipment, furnishings, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins)
TruDesign skin fitting installation tools
(Marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials)
Harken Inc. Air winch with performance optimization gear sets
(Deck equipment, sails and rigging)
Zhik Pty Ltd. AVLARE
(Clothing and crew accessories)
Securitag SAS Sea-Tags
(Lifesaving and safety equipment)
Torqeedo Cruise FP models
(Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings)

For an overview of all winners, click here

The 26th DAME design award competition attracted 117 products from 26 countries. A total of 67 products were shortlisted for final consideration and these are the ‘nominated’ products that appear on the DAME stand at the METSTRADE Show.

The jury then selected the overall DAME winner, together with seven outright category winners; a total of 22 further entries were commended with special mentions.

The DAME design Award was launched in 1991 to promote design in all disciplines and to recognise the best-designed products at the METS trade show exhibition in Amsterdam.

In making its judgements, the jury seeks to emphasise the importance of design for all marine products, from function to aesthetics and from packaging to the end product. Plus, the expected impact on the marine industry of the entries, their suitability for intended purpose, the level of innovation, cost, ease of use or installation and environmental impact.