Eight in the race for Yellow Pencils in Product Design at 51st annual D&AD judging event

April 19 2013, 4:02 am | BY Lynchy | No Comments

productdesign.jpgProducts as diverse as the Olympic Torch, Nike’s Nike+ FuelBand, Lufthansa’s Business Class seat and the Apple iMac are competing for one of the world’s most prestigious design awards. They have all been Nominated for Yellow Pencils at the 51st annual D&AD Awards, which has taken place this week at London’s Olympia Exhibition Centre.

The Product Design category has been particularly strong at the 2013 Awards, with iconic products including Apple’s iPhone 5, Beats by Dre headphones and Google Now only managing In-Book honours this year in the face of stiff competition.

Nominations for Yellow Pencils in Product Design went to:

  • Nest Learning Thermostat by Bould Design for Nest Labs (PICTURED)
  • London 2012 Olympic Torch by BarberOsgerby for The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC)
  • Nike+ FuelBand by R/GA for Nike
  • New Business Class Seat and Cabin by PearsonLloyd Design for Lufthansa 
  • The Fireman by Bear Meets Eagle on Fire for Ramblin Brands’ Smile Makers
  • 27-inch iMac by Apple Computer 
  • GoPro by Hero3 for Bould Design 
  • EndoCuff by DesignEdge Cambridge for Arc Medical Design 

Says Hartmut Esslinger, foreman of the Product Design Jury: “The UK has always had a leading design edge, but I’m pleased to see a strong representation of great product design from across the globe this year, which attests to how far we have grown as an international industry. Whilst there have been some products which have, for me, favoured formalism over creating a strong human connection, overall, I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen, particularly  design which successfully combines the digital and the physical. There has been a tendency to put design in the corner rather than at the heart of a communications strategy and I’d like to see more brands realise the power that good design can bring.” 

A further 12 products were awarded In-Book status by the judging panel for the Product Design category.  The In-Book work, which will appear in the 51st D&AD Annual, was:

  • iPhone 5 by Apple Computer
  • 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display by Apple Computer
  • Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic by Apple Computer
  • Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Executive by Ammunition Group for Beats by Dr. Dre 
  • Beats by Dr. Dre Pill by Ammunition Group for Beats by Dr. Dre 
  • Bay Chair by PearsonLloyd Design for Bene
  • Google Now by Google Creative Lab
  • Docklands by PearsonLloyd Design for Bene
  • PV1D Subwoofer by Native Design for Bowers & Wilkins
  • The Frenchman by Bear Meets Eagle on Fire for Ramblin Brands’ Smile Makers
  • The Chadwick Oven by Lypiatt Designs 
  • Bramah Pendant by Michael Young for EOQ