February 17, 2010 (Chicago, IL) – The search for the most ingenious student inventions has begun with the launch of the 2010 James Dyson Award. In previous years, the international student design competition has inspired problem-solving inventions including guide dogs GPS, flat-folding plugs, and a paper cast that can be used in disaster relief.
The award, run by the James Dyson Foundation, celebrates student designers and works to inspire the next generation of engineers. The competition vets design students across the globe for a grand prize of over $15,000, and another $15,000 for the student’s university department. Entries are accepted through July 1, 2010.
The award is James Dyson’s call to action to motivate and educate students about design engineering. “Making things is not about grime and grease, but solving real life problems,” says Dyson. “Now is the time to commit to design and engineering, and to the generations that will define our future.”
Out of more than 400 entries, last year’s winner was Automist, a kitchen sink attachment that detects and extinguishes fires with a fine water mist. The project was developed by British students Yusuf Muhammad and Paul Thomas from the Royal College of Art in London.
“Winning the James Dyson Award has enabled us to transform our idea from a prototype into a viable product – which we’re now close to being able to sell,” says Muhammad. “Without this kind of support, our ideas might be stuck on the drawing board and in the workshop. James Dyson’s endorsement has really opened doors for us.”
A nominee from each participating country – decided in August – will be invited to Dyson laboratories to participate in a workshop run by Dyson engineers. The esteemed panel of judges includes design journalist, Allison Arieff, and Professor of Innovation and Design at Parsons the New School for Design, Bruce Nussbaum.
James Dyson will announce the global winner on October 5, 2010.
For further information on the James Dyson Award, please contact:
Valerie Silvis
valerie.silvis@dyson.com
312-706-2266
About the James Dyson Award
The James Dyson Award is an international design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. It’s run by the James Dyson Foundation, James Dyson’s charitable trust, as part of its mission to inspire young people about design engineering.
The James Dyson Award winner will receive:
- A James Dyson Award trophy.
- Over $15,000 for the student or the team.
- Over $15,000 for the current or former student’s university department.
- An opportunity to visit Dyson’s engineering facilities either in the UK or Malaysia.
The award is open to any student of design (or graduate within four years of graduation) who is studying or studied in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, UK and USA.
James Dyson Award entrants can submit footage, images and sketched of their ideas to the website, www.jamesdysonaward.org, along with stories detailing their design process and inspiration.
About The James Dyson Foundation
The James Dyson Foundation is a registered charity with the aim of supporting design, technology and engineering education, medical research charities and local community projects. The James Dyson Foundation works with schools and universities around the UK and internationally.