Summit meeting of the best designers in the Aalto-Theater Essen

“red dot award: product design 2012”: Summit meeting of the best designers in the Aalto-Theater Essen.

When more than 1,200 high-profile designers, CEOs, media representatives and marketing decision makers from around the world meet in Essen, this means: “and the red dot goes to…”. That was the case on 2 July 2012 at the height of the “red dot award: product design 2012” – the red dot gala. In addition to the awards ceremony, which took place in the impressive setting of the Aalto-Theater Essen, Germany, as many as three just opened special exhibitions thrilled the international guests in the red dot design museum. There, they celebrated afterwards at the Designers’ Night until dawn.
This year, 4,515 entries from 58 nations competed for the title of one of the most relevant competitions in the world, the “red dot award: product design 2012”. Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of the red dot, led his guests through the gala in the Aalto-Theater Essen, which was filled to capacity. They were to enjoy an evening of superlatives.
Rarely has the design quality of the entries been as high as this year. In a selection process lasting several days, an international, independent jury of renowned design experts has awarded 1,058 products the “red dot” – the quality seal for outstanding designs. The 60 proud winners of the “red dot: best of the best” were bestowed a special honour: Prof. Dr. Peter Zec handed them the red dot trophy on stage.
The highlight of the awards ceremony produced an imposing sound: Michael Mauer, head of Style Porsche, drove on stage in a 911 coupé to receive the highest recognition of design – the distinction of being “red dot: design team of the year”. Paul Flowers, chief designer of last year’s winner Grohe AG solemnly handed over the “Radius” challenge cup.

Neither a designer nor a company can apply for this title. It is an individual award, which stands out against all other red dot awards and is the highest recognition for a sustainable design policy.
Laudatory speaker addressing the design team of the year was none other than the car design legend and Head of Volkswagen Group Design, Walter Maria de Silva. Afterwards, Michael Mauer honoured Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in his speech. He died in April this year, leaving a design heritage whose tradition would continue, as Michael Mauer said. In addition to the two prominent car designers, other famous personalities visited the red dot gala: These were, among others, Peter Schreyer, the no less known car designer and chief designer of KIA, Porsche CEO Mathias Mueller as well as TV chef Sarah Wiener, who was awarded a “red dot: best of the best” for her knife set.
Likewise, the cultural programme of the red dot gala was very impressive. The Japanese Sayaka Shoji, the youngest prize-winning artist at the Paganini Competition, enchanted the audience with her virtuosic violin playing just like the Aalto Ballett Theater Essen, conducted by Ben Van Cauwenbergh, which presented an excerpt from the play “Irish Soul”.
The end of the awards ceremony at the Aalto Theatre marked the beginning of the Designers’ Night. Several hundred guests boisterously celebrated the award winners of this year’s competition in the red dot design museum. Thanks to the driving music selection of DJ Fishi, the wild party lasted until the wee hours of the morning.
At the same time, three special exhibitions were opened: “Design on stage – winners red dot award: product design 2012/2013” exhibits the impressive winning projects of the competition in the fascinating ambience of the old boiler house of the world cultural heritage Zeche Zollverein – for the first time this year on two floors. Apart from large-scale installations, the visitors experience award-winning design that is arranged by categories. Along the north-south axis of the museum, a sample selection of iconic exhibits is prominently displayed on separate islands.
“Style Porsche – The Future of History” is this year’s special exhibition of the “red dot: design team of the year”. It is dedicated to well-shaped, high performance street sports cars. The 911 model, the distinctive DNA of the car manufacturer, is at the heart of the exhibition. A historic 911 and the current model, which just received the “red dot: best of the best”, are presented and demonstrate the evolutionary approach to sustainable design by Porsche. The essential genetic information is passed from generation to generation so that a 911 is always recognisable as a 911 – in spite of all innovations.
Speaking of sustainability: The special exhibition “Moving Materials” shows how and to what extent intelligent material may contribute to a better life and a healthy environment. It will also be presented from 3 to 29 July 2012 as part of PROUD (People Researchers Organisations Using Design for co-creation and innovation) at the red dot design museum.
Traditionally, the day of the red dot gala marks the publication date for the red dot design yearbook: As a contemporary inspirational source and important work of reference, both volumes “living” and “doing” present the most current trends of international product design.

Facts and figures of the “red dot award: product design 2012”
Entires: 4,515
“red dot“ awards: 1,034
“red dot: best of the best“ awards: 60
“honourable mention“ awards: 174
The jury of the “red dot award: product design 2012”
• Prof. Ben van Berkel, Netherlands
• Dr. Luisa Bocchietto, Italy
• Gordon Bruce, USA
• Tony K. M. Chang, Taiwan
• Vivian Wai-kwan Cheng, Hong Kong
• Yao Cheng Chung, Taiwan
• Mårten Claesson, Sweden
• Prof. Martin Darbyshire, Great Britain
• Prof. Stefan Diez, Germany
• Robin Edman, Sweden
• Hans Ehrich, Finland
• Prof. Dr. Alpay Er, Turkey
• Luigi Ferrara, Canada
• Manuel Alvarez Fuentes, Mexico
• Prof. Lutz Fügener, Germany
• Hideshi Hamaguchi, USA
• Prof. Renke He, China
• Prof. Dr. Florian Hufnagl, Germany
• Tapani Hyvönen, Finland
• Guto Indio da Costa, Brasil
• Prof. Cheng-Neng Kuan, Taiwan
• Wolfgang K. Meyer-Hayoz, Switzerland
• Steve Leung, Hong Kong
• Prof. Ken Nah, South Korea
• Ken Okuyama, Japan
• Simon Ong, Singapore
• Karen Korellis Reuther, USA
• Prof. Rudolf Schricker, Germany
• Takashi Tabata, Japan
• Hadi Teherani, Germany

The jury’s selection criteria: