The globally renowned Design Awards at METSTRADE 2022 will be supporting the work of the World Sailing Trust through the donation of Award registration fees 

The DAME Design Awards were launched in 1991 to promote design in all disciplines and to recognise the best-designed products at the METSTRADE Show. Its unique relevance in the global marine marketplace has grown in parallel with the explosion in awareness of design in the world around us, from cars and architecture to fashion and consumer goods. Each year the combined registration fees for the DAME Awards are donated to a nominated charity, as a way for the METSTRADE community to give something back to society.

“We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen by the METSTRADE Exhibition Committee as the nominated charity for the DAME Awards.  METSTRADE is the world’s largest international marine trade show, so be recognised for our work, particularly the Carbon Fibre Circular Alliance, by our peers is extremely rewarding. We very much look forward to seeing all the DAME entries and meeting both the Category and the Overall Winner in November,” comments Dee Caffari, Chair, World Sailing Trust.

The DAME provides an unique and universally recognised benchmark for the whole marine equipment industry. It does so by highlighting the merits of excellent design in all its many facets, from aesthetics, functionality, and innovation, through to integration, practicality of use, price to performance ratio and presentation. With METSTRADE’s strong focus on sustainability, entrants must also explain how environmental impact reduction has been considered across the whole product design.

Entries to the awards will be judged across seven categories and the assessment will be made by an experienced Jury of eight comprising leading boat, interior, and industrial designers, as well as user experts, with renowned yacht designer, Andre Hoek, as Jury Chair.   A final selection of seven Category Winners and the eventual DAME Award Overall Winner is made from these nominations, with announcements made at the flagship Breakfast Briefing on the first day of the show. The DAME Jury also awards a series of Special Mentions and an Environmental Design Winner at its discretion if an exemplar product is identified.

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.

Entries to the Awards are open to manufacturers and authorised suppliers who are registered as exhibitors or co-exhibitors at METSTRADE. Entry is made online and close on the 16 September 2022.

The METSTRADE show will be held from 15-17 November in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. More information is available on www.metstrade.com.