Messe Düsseldorf distinguishes 22 products with the “caravaning design award”

For the fifth time around, Messe Düsseldorf issued the caravaning design award “innovations for new mobility” in the run-up to the CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF. The renowned design award, issued every two years in cooperation with red dot projects, distinguishes product developments in the caravaning sector for particularly innovative concepts and successful design. In mid-July, the jury of five internationally recognised experts awarded 22 products: four products with the outstanding distinction “caravaning design award: best practice”, 17 products with the “caravaning design award”, and one product with “honourable mention”. In addition, the special award “caravaning design award: best interior design”—for innovative ideas in interior design—was issued for the first time. The new award was established in response to the growing significance of interior design in the sector. In all, some 47 exhibitors of CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF had submitted 90 products to the competition.

The jury was comprised of the design experts Kristiina Lassus, managing director of kristiina lassus studio; Mårten Claesson, founding member of Claesson Koivisto Rune; and Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, founder of the red dot design award and senator of the International Council of Societies of Industrial design (ICSID). The jury also included two caravaning experts: Adi Kemmer, director of the business sectors  promobil and CARAVANING of the Motor Presse Stuttgart, and Ingo Wagner, chief editor of Reisemobil International, DoldeMedien Verlag.


The award winners demonstrated a keen eye for detail

The spectrum of awarded products is wide and reflects the entire potential of the sector: The four “caravaning design award: best practice” awards went to the camper van SpaceCamper Light, the tent caravan Opera, the power generator Honda EU30i, and the collapsible bicycle rack FROLI_Mobiler Fahrradparker. The SpaceCamper Light also received the special “caravaning design award: best interior design”.

The latter award was issued to the SpaceCamper Light for the particularly appealing design of its interior, which offers all the commodities of a modern van. Its back seat, boot volume, and variability are all above average, providing ample leg room and back seat width as well as a table, refrigerator, and light dimming features. Further comfort functions such as sink, stove, and closet fit intelligently into the vehicle without consuming a lot of space. Especially innovative are the dry toilet, ingeniously tucked into the sliding door, as well as the rear tent, extending from the tailgate, with integrated warm shower.

The jury’s selection proves that good design is not a matter of money. Even low-cost products can be appealing through spiffy detail solutions, high-quality materials, and a keen eye for details. Summarising the jury’s main criteria, Kristiina Lassus said: “We look for quality—down to the smallest detail” as well as “We’re happy when a product shows good quality, workmanship, and functional aspects that are well conceived and executed.”

Limited room and the mobility of the object  pose particular challenges for the designers of recreational vehicles. Of special importance are thus intelligent, multifunctional solutions that make optimal use of the available space. Good design is more than just appearance and can in fact be quite simple.

Prof. Dr. Peter Zec added that: “Quality design reveals itself specifically by not intruding or imposing itself, yet where we nevertheless notice that a problem was intelligently solved, resulting in a new offer.”
 
The jurors agreed that the role of design in the caravaning sector is greater today than it was ten years ago. “Design has become a recognised factor in the sector; the search for better design is palpable”, according to Prof. Dr. Zec. In line with this, Adi Kemmer observed that the level of submitted products had once again improved this year. Ingo Wagner, for his part, considers the caravaning design award as being a main contributing factor to this trend: “The caravaning design award is important for the sector because it distinguishes products and companies that are pioneering with new ideas. The impulses these give are carried forward and contribute to products becoming more attractive. Not only visually, but also conceptually.” Kemmer also underlined the significance of the award: “To be able to say that I won a caravaning design award means something in this sector.” The design experts nevertheless agree that there is still a lot of untapped potential in the caravaning sector with regard to design. According to Prof. Dr. Zec, the involvement of renowned designers who have never worked in the caravaning sector yet who have experience in the design of interior spaces could lead to the fruition of wholly new sensibilities and ideas.

The award ceremony will took place on the occasion of the opening of the CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF on Saturday, 28 August 2010. From this date, all award-winning products will be presented at www.caravaning-award.de.

Further Informationen:

www.caravan-salon.de