Shortlist for DAME Design Award 2024

Fifty-eight products from 28 countries have been nominated to enter the final rounds of assessment for the 33rd edition of the globally recognized DAME Design Awards. Winners will be announced at 2024 METSTRADE, the world’s largest marine trade exhibition, on November 19.

The international jury examined 114 submissions for eight DAME categories, of which one of the category winners will be recognized as the overall winner. The jury also confirmed it will announce a discretionary Environmental Design Award for the third year in succession.

This year’s DAME Design Awards entry fees will be donated to SailWise, a Dutch provider of multi-day, water sports activities and holidays for people with physical or sensory disabilities.

“It was very encouraging to see such a strong field of entries spanning the whole of the leisure marine sector, with products for people and the smallest boats right up to high-end superyacht equipment,” noted Andre Hoek, chair of the DAME jury.

“You can see accelerating trends among the entries, such as the move towards electrification. There were welcome examples too of how sustainable design and the evolution of alternative materials are gaining traction.

Despite these obvious priorities, the Jury were pleased to see many products where designers have also iteratively improved the user experience and taken advantage of latest technologies to meet emerging market demands.”

METSTRADE director Niels Klarenbeek adds: “From my own experience on the water, I know that well-designed marine equipment is essential for the enjoyment and safety of all participants. Looking back, we can see just how much progress has been made. This year is no exception, with our DAME Jury reporting a range of excellently designed products that utilize both existing and emerging technologies to address key industry priorities such as sustainability and accessibility.”

Nominated products: damedesignawards.com/nominees

DAME Jury 2024:

• Andre Hoek (chair), naval architect and yacht designer, founder of Hoek Design and Hoek Brokerage, The Netherlands
• Olaf Bouwens, student, Master’s in Integrated Product Design at TUDelft, The Netherlands
• Davide Cipriani, boat and industrial designer, president of yacht design at Centrostiledesign, Italy
• Rory Coase, yacht designer, Coase Design, Norway
• Ben Stein, editor of Panbo marine electronics hub, USA
• Arjen Jansen, senior lecturer, school for Industrial Design Engineering at TUDelft, The Netherlands
• Amy Munroe, sustainability consultant, Foxall Munro, UK
• Olivier Racoupeau, naval architect and boat designer, founder and owner of Berret Racoupeau Yachts, France (attended remotely)
• Klaus Roeder, yacht designer and surveyor, Technical Consultant DBSV Icomia, Germany.

DAME categories:

• Personal equipment
If I was going on a charter, had a boat share arrangement, went boating with a friend or have my own boat, what would my personal kit be?
• Comfort & entertainment afloat
If I don’t want to go boating in a bare hull, what kinds of equipment am I likely to need to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of all afloat?
• Navigation & communication
If I was on the helm of a boat or bridge of a superyacht, what electronics and other equipment would I use to control and safely navigate it?
• Electronic & electrical systems
If I need electrical power anywhere in the boat or to make networkable devices speak to each other, what systems and equipment would I use?
• Propulsion & dynamics
If I want to move, steer, stabilise and trim the boat, what machinery and systems will I use?
• Deck equipment
If I am sailing, mooring, anchoring and using the outdoor spaces on my boat, what hardware and equipment will I use?
• Security & safety aboard
What is the equipment aboard that serves specifically to keep my boat secure, safe and capable of dealing with emergencies afloat?
• Shoreside equipment & materials
What are all the items of off-vessel equipment, hardware, materials and software that help to construct and then support my boat from cradle to grave?

The Jury will additionally name a product from among the field of DAME nominations as an Environmental Design Award winner if it finds an exemplar product that is well designed and demonstrates clear and obvious merit in terms of environmental impact.

Source: METSTRADE