SA design doyenne judges in Japan

"The Nagoya Design Do! Competition targets young designers from around the globe (entrants have to be under the age of 40) with the aim of developing their skills and fostering an exchange of ideas with one another. There are no restrictions placed on the design area or specialty and all areas of design are applicable for entry. It attracted 917 submissions from 37 countries, including an entry from South Africa," explains Bateman.

She continues, "I would like to see more entrants from South Africa in 2008. As patron and participating judge of the Design Achievers Awards of the SABS Design Institute, it is apparent that there is considerable design talent in South Africa which is definitely of an international standard."

According to Bateman, the prize money offered at the Nagoya competition is substantial: "The first prize is two million Yen. So from both a financial and a global awareness point of view, participation in Nagoya can be a gateway to success for a young designer."

The theme for this year was "For someone else" - communication and collaboration.

The winning design came from Poland and was a Life Alarm, a medical device to be worn by ill or elderly people to raise the alarm in case of a life threat. Second place went to a graphic poster using burnt matches to depict the effects of deforestation and industrialisation. Third place went to a mobile medical container for use in rural areas or disaster zones.

For more details on the entries, go to www.idcn.jp/compe/.