Design Gala launches Western Cape Design Awards

In addition to announcing the biennial winner of the World Design Impact prize, the event officially launched the local design awards and SABS Design and Innovation Entrepreneurship Centre

Dolos trophy adds to local impact

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) awards the World Design Impact prize every two years as part of the World Design Capital programme in the designated city at the time.

In a move to celebrate local designers and design thinking during Cape Town's year of being the World Design Capital, the trophy was modelled on the now famous "dolosse," which was designed by East London draughtsman Aubrey Kruger in 1966 to protect the harbour breakwater from stormy seas. Harbour engineer, Eric Merrifield liked the concept and design and it was further developed, cast in concrete and successfully placed along the seaward edge of the breakwater.

Local design gallery Bronze Age, in collaboration with Porky Hefer, was tasked to create a trophy that would show off the dolos design and after some initial challenges on how best to represent the unique shape of the dolos, were more than pleased with the finished product. The trophy features a cluster of six dolosse; one will be attached to the base, the others will be loose to allow for dynamic change in the overall design.

Western Cape Design Awards

The Western Cape Design Awards are set to become an annual feature on the local events calendar and part of the legacy for WDC 2014. Emanating from the Western Cape Design Strategy (#WDC303), the "... by DESIGN" Awards will provide for a range of categories that recognise excellence, reward innovation, stimulate change and encourage development in South Africa through concerted application of design processes.

Awards categories

• Innovate - using materials and technology in new ways
• Transform - quality of life
• Sustain - our resources with green and clean product life cycles
• Collaborate - through partnerships that generate interesting solutions
• Talent - is developed through smart educational tools
• Expand - our economy by growing local production and exports
• Inspire - new kids on the block

Nominations will open on 1 August and close on 31 October, with the inaugural awards taking place in February 2015.

New design centre

The SABS Design Institute announced the opening of its Design and Innovation Entrepreneurship Centre that will offer facilities to develop ideas into prototypes and provide innovators with skills to commercialise their ideas into successful businesses.

The centre will draw on the expertise of more than 30 multi-disciplinary design entrepreneurship experts, ranging from industrial designers, architects, communication designers, to business process designers.

It has kicked off with the 43 Challenge, where 43 product or service ideas from participants in the Technology Innovation Agency's Youth Technology Fund have been put on the table for further development. Candidates represent all lifestyles and bring to the Centre ideas ranging from cellphone apps and household appliances to public services and more.

For more information about WDC 2014 visit www.wdc14.com.