Globally recognised DAME Awards at METSTRADE opens for entries
by Eva van de Pol, METSTRADE 21 Jul 2022 04:50 PDT
15-17 November 2022
DAME Awards © METSTRADE
The globally renowned Design Awards at METSTRADE have now opened for nominations until 16 September 2022, with all entry fees supporting the work of the World Sailing Trust to safeguard the planet and promote boating participation.
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 will be judged across seven categories spanning the sectors represented at METSTRADE before an eventual winner is chosen. The assessment will be made by an experienced Jury of eight comprising leading boat, interior, and industrial designers, as well as user experts. Renowned yacht designer, Andre Hoek, will chair the Jury. Visit here for more details.
Showcase recognition
All DAME nominated products benefit from high-profile presence on a special showcase within the heart of the METSTRADE showfloor, the world's largest marine equipment event. 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.
Winning results
The DAME is indisputably a key highlight of the year for the whole marine equipment sector, with winning and nominated entries benefiting greatly from additional exposure of their products, increased commercial success and affirmation of their design efforts.
Last year's overall winner, Volvo Penta, recognised that the essence of the DAME is "not just innovative design but a dedication to continuous improvements in all aspects of the creative process." Anders Thorin, Product Manager Electronics, commented "it is an absolute privilege to be awarded the overall DAME award for our Assisted Docking System. We are always looking for ways to support our customer's easy boating experience and this system takes that to the next level."
After the TEMO 450 electric outboard won the 2020 DAME Excellence in Adversity Award, Justine Perussel, TEMO's sales and marketing director said: "Because of the DAME win and METSTRADE we had a lot of visibility in December which generated a rush of interest and many messages from all around the world. We sold a lot of units, some of them as Christmas gifts!"
Support participation and the planet by entering the DAME
The €150 registration fee per product payable to enter the DAME Awards is donated to a charity nominated by the METSTRADE Exhibition Committee. The beneficiary of this year's proceeds will be the World Sailing Trust, the official charity affiliated to World Sailing, the global governing body of the sport. It was established in 2018 and works on projects within two focus areas - People and Planet, promoting participation and access to sailing and safeguarding the world's waters for future generations.
Current projects include greater gender diversity in sailing, carbon fibre circularity, boat and component recycling and the development of social responsibility and sustainability awareness among young sailors. Learn more at worldsailingtrust.org