Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg

The Design Center Baden-Württemberg has opened the call for submissions for the 2023 edition of its Focus Open International Design Award. As a non-commercial design prize, the Focus Open offers particularly low barriers to participation thanks to its moderate fees, while providing a high level of visibility from which, in the event of an award, smaller agencies, design studios and companies, in particular, can benefit. Entries can be submitted in a total of 14 categories including Bathroom, Kitchen, Light, Mobility, Investment products, Sport and Mobility.

Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 5 of 10
© Design Center Baden-Württemberg
Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 2 of 10
© Design Center Baden-Württemberg
Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 6 of 10
(Top to bottom) The Focus META 2022 went to the Urbanharbour transformation concept, the upgrade of the clic up display system by Burkhardt Leitner Modular Spaces earned a Special Mention prize and Recaro's CL 3810 long-haul aircraft seat won Focus Gold. Image © Design Center Baden-Württemberg

Transparent criteria

The Focus Open awards are initially presented in three categories: Gold, Silver and Special Mention. In addition, the special Focus META prize is awarded to solutions that display an inspiring character in terms of addressing current social, technological, economic or ecological issues in an interdisciplinary way, covering areas such as sustainable design, universal design, form innovations or design strategies. From the entrant's point of view, the true benefit of the award lies in the high degree of public attention that comes with winning. The Design Center Baden-Württemberg ensures this in the form of a high-quality internationally distributed yearbook, social media communication with a broad reach as well as a quarterly exhibition. This year, the award ceremony and exhibition will be hosted at the Haus der Wirtschaft Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart.

The number of prizes that are ultimately awarded in each category depends entirely on the judgement of the jury members. For more than 30 years, the award has focused on independent evaluation, by a jury of six that is newly formed annually, and which is itself anchored in practice. Each individual submission is put to the test on the basis of transparently communicated criteria. These include aspects such as design quality, level of innovation, ergonomics and usability, as well as aesthetic considerations and the digital intelligence of the product.

Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 7 of 10
All award winners take part in an exhibition that will take place in Stuttgart in 2023. . Image © Design Center Baden-Württemberg

Leading by example

A look at some of last year's award winners include, for example, a firefighter's helmet by the Linz-based design studio Formquadrat for Rosenbauer International, which received the Focus GOLD Award for its successful combination of functionality and emotionality, according to the jury's statement.

Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 8 of 10
Hero helper: Rosenbauer International also won Gold in 2022 for the Heros H30 firefighter helmet. An integrated red position light means users can be seen in low-visibility situations. Image © Design Center Baden-Württemberg

Honoring those people who put themselves in dangerous situations for the safety of others, the relatively light ‘Heros H30’ helmet pays tribute to them, but also has functional expansion options in addition to high stability and ergonomic benefits. A helmet lamp, a thermal imaging camera or a breathing mask can be added without tools, while the red position light, which is integrated into the back, is a new development.

Another gold award went to the long-haul aircraft seat by Recaro. The Schwäbisch Hall company succeeded in making it 10 to 15 per cent lighter than existing seats (depending on the specific format), thus helping to reduce CO2 emissions by large amounts, while also optimizing comfort. The jury awarded one of a total of 18 Focus SILVER awards to Kuckoo Camper's Bruno mini camper, praising, in particular, its lightweight construction from sturdy plywood. This lends a harmonious look to the product's detailing, while at the same time creating a pleasant indoor climate.

Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 9 of 10
© Design Center Baden-Württemberg
Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 10 of 10
© Design Center Baden-Württemberg
Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 3 of 10
Top: The Bridge Table by Mobimex earned Silver for its almost weightless look. Middle: A Special Mention went to the Coucou video booth. Bottom: The U-Turn workshop seat by Bene also picked up the Silver prize.. Image © Design Center Baden-Württemberg

The 2022 Focus META prize was awarded to the Urbanharbor transformation concept by Stuttgart architects SFP for Maxmaier Urbandevelopment in Ludwigsburg, in which flexible office modules that included an integrative energy system for climate-neutrality and sustainability were created in a disused production hall.

Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Image 4 of 10
That winning look: the winners of the Focus Open 2022 at the award ceremony in Ludwigsburg. Image © Design Center Baden-Württemberg

All information on the competition, including other award-winning design solutions from the Focus Open 2022, can be found here.

About this author
Cite: Markus Hieke. "Open Call: 'Focus Open International Design Award 2023' by Design Center Baden-Württemberg" 16 Feb 2023. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/996161/open-call-focus-open-international-design-award-2023-by-design-center-baden-wurttemberg> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.