Tech and environmental sustainability projects emerge as winners in European Design Awards

A record player, a yacht, a shelf, and a high-tech hospital bed were all among designs honoured at the 2024 Design Europa Awards yesterday (25 September) for their creativity and innovation, but also management of environmental impact. 

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) backed award - held in a different member state each year - was broadcast live from the National Library of Riga.

Nominees were divided into four categories, recognising large and medium-sized companies, entrepreneurs and SMEs, young talent under 30, and a lifetime achievement award. Environmental sustainability been considered as a criterion for judging the projects since 2021, coinciding with the European Commission’s launch of its Green Deal strategy. 

Päivi Tahkokallio, a jury member who chaired the panel in 2021, was behind the introduction of the environmental criterion in the competition. "There was a sense of urgency to find solutions to mitigate climate ... sustainability needs to go hand in hand with intellectual property rights protection," she told Euronews. The criterion is now a permanent fixture of the event, but she pointed out the challenges in evaluating sustainability, as it can manifest in various ways. 

Many of this year’s finalists chose to focus on the longevity of their products, opposing hyper-consumerism and planned obsolescence. They offered reparable items adaptable to changing tastes. The SMEs and Entrepreneurs category winner went a step further. The Transparent Turntable, created by a Swedish company, impressed the jury with its easy-to-upgrade components, allowing for new technologies to be incorporated. It also stood out for its use of recycled and recyclable materials, while delivering high tech performance. 

Clean energy was also in the spotlight, with the Next Generation award going to 27-year-old Chiara Mignani for her electric, modular and ergonomic yachts. The SMEs award finalists also included MyGrid’s Module One portable battery which can store electricity during low output periods and distribute it later on. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to 92-year-old Dieter Rams, celebrated for his work as a designer at Braun. Known for his minimalistic designs, which avoided visual clutter, Rams, whose motto is “less, but better”, is also a committed environmentalist. 

“Our winners demonstrated design’s power to drive society and industry forward,” said João Negrão, Executive Director of the EUIPO. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, also present, praised the designers' efforts in advancing the circular economy and the use of green materials. “It is a shift that needs to happen in the industry,” she said in her speech, adding that she was "honoured that the jury recognised this."

Next year, the ceremony will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark. Whether environmental issues will remain central to the 2025 edition remains to be seen. “I would be really surprised if the sustainability aspect disappears from the competition, as it is such a predominant theme in our society,” jury member Päivi Tahkokallio remarked.