The Designs of the Year awards, chaired by Design Museum founder Stephen Bayley, boast an impressive jury including Bill Moggeridge, Director of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, design curator Janice Blackburn, graphic designer Mark Farrow, novelist Will Self, among others.
The awards seek to recognize the most innovative, interesting and forward-looking new work in design of all kinds, from around the world nominated by group of internationally respected design experts, curators, critics, practitioners and enthusiasts.
The nominated designs fall into seven categories: architecture, fashion, furniture, graphics, interactive, product and transport. A winner (practice, team or individual) for each category will be selected by an international jury and one overall winner is presented at the awards dinner on March 15. All nominations will be on show at the Design Museum from February 16 to August 7, 2011. The nominations are listed here.
Stephen Bayley commented, "In about 1978 Terence Conran and I had a slightly mad vision that the future Design Museum was going to be a high-tech factory in Milton Keynes with robots picking mid-century modern masterpieces off Dexion shelving for the edification of students. I’m delighted it’s evolved into something more sophisticated. And I’m equally delighted to chair the influential Brit Insurance Designs of the Year 2011. In ‘78 design was for a freak minority, wonderful that, thanks to the Design Museum, it’s now part of national life."
