Commercial categories now recognised in prestigious international design award

The Australian International Design Awards (AIDA) has announced the launch of additional categories, including the awarding of the most innovative and sophisticated designs in ‘Commercial and Industrial’, and ‘Hardware and Building’.

A direct result of Australia’s growing reputation as an international design destination, the category of Hardware and Building will see submissions of the best home hardware, power tools, garden and lawn care, pool care, home security, building products, plumbing, lighting systems and industrial fittings from around the world.

The category of Commercial and Industrial will see submissions of the best professional instruments, office products, financial registers, production and safety equipment, earthmoving, mining and agricultural machinery from around the world.

The new Services category covers best services, strategies and systems for the commercial, education, government, public and not-for-profit sectors from around the world.

The Managing Director of Good Design Australia and Chair of the AIDA, Brandon Gien, believes the expansion of categories in 2013 will raise the calibre of entries, give worthy businesses more opportunity to receive accreditation and clear up traditional beliefs that design is limited to aesthetics.

“People often assess design based on visual appearance and functionality; however, we measure design based on the parameters of form, function, quality, safety and sustainability,” he said.

A fixture in the design community for over five decades, the AIDA has been the launch pad for some of Australia’s most well-known inventions and designs, awarding, in previous years: the Hills Hoist; the design of the Ute; and, most recently, the Deepsea Challenger, a submersible that allowed film director James Cameron to explore previously unreachable ocean depths.

Aligning with Vivid Sydney for the 2013 awards, the AIDA has put together a judging panel and forum of some of the world’s most respected product designers, including representatives from countries including Sweden and USA.

Submissions to the 2013 AIDA close on 28 March, with winners announced on 30 May. An early-bird discount on the entry fee is available for entries made before 28 February.

Enter at http://www.gooddesignaustralia.com/awards/.