RSS Feed
James Dyson Award Announces Semi-Finalisits
8.27.09 | UK | From sign language converters to solar powered belts, The James Dyson Award seeks to single out the best in problem solving student design. Dyson engineers have whittled 200 entries from around the world down to 20 semi-finalists. This year's entries illustrate the high caliber of inventiveness and creativity required to compete. One especially innovative U.S. entry, Prio Paper Cast, has made it to the international semi-finals. Prio Paper Cast is a stabilizing cast made out of intricately woven paper, and is the brainchild of student inventor, Nicholas Riddle. 
Prio Paper CastRecognizing the scarcity of resources and lack of clear communication on accident sites and in disaster situations, Nicholas set out to create a device that could help. The Prio Paper Cast can be affixed in less than two minutes with no prior experience. It features easy-to-read ID straps for triage, with instructions to medical personnel. And, because of the grid-like construction, doctors and nurses can administer medicine and injections without removing the supportive structure. The cast is lightweight and can be shipped flat and in large quantities, to aid in disaster relief efforts.
"I've found that challenging conventions can provide unusual and exciting results. By taking an everyday material out of its two-dimensional context, the Prio Paper Cast offers a product that will help someone in need," said Riddle. Nicholas will now compete with 19 other inventions, including an ergonomic wheelchair brake from Ireland, a collapsible electrical plug from the UK, and a ski carrying backpack from Switzerland.
The James Dyson Award is a global design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. Entrants are posed with a brief: design something that solves a problem. It may sound straightforward, but university students from over 20 countries must answer the challenge in new and inventive ways. James Dyson will ultimately select the first place winner, who, together with their university, will receive a total prize of 320,000 pounds.
"Experimentation and creativity need to be cultivated amongst young designers if we are to see future innovations emerging," said James Dyson. "This award is about giving the next generation of engineers a head start." A panel of esteemed inventors and designers are tasked with choosing the top 15 entries to move forward to the final round.
Representing the US on the international judging panel is Frank Tyneski, former Executive Director of the ISDA and Skinit Product Development. Tyneski is already impressed with this year's entries, saying, "I've served as a judge for the JDA in years past, but this year's submissions are particularly inventive. It's going to be close."
About the James Dyson Foundation
The James Dyson Foundation is running the James Dyson Award. The Foundation is a registered charity, founded in 2002 with the aim of supporting design, technology and engineering education, medical research charities and local community projects. The James Dyson Foundation works with schools and universities in the UK and internationally. For more information on the James Dyson Award and the other semi-finalists, please visit http://www.jamesdysonaward.org.
Prio Paper Cast"I've found that challenging conventions can provide unusual and exciting results. By taking an everyday material out of its two-dimensional context, the Prio Paper Cast offers a product that will help someone in need," said Riddle. Nicholas will now compete with 19 other inventions, including an ergonomic wheelchair brake from Ireland, a collapsible electrical plug from the UK, and a ski carrying backpack from Switzerland.
The James Dyson Award is a global design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. Entrants are posed with a brief: design something that solves a problem. It may sound straightforward, but university students from over 20 countries must answer the challenge in new and inventive ways. James Dyson will ultimately select the first place winner, who, together with their university, will receive a total prize of 320,000 pounds.
"Experimentation and creativity need to be cultivated amongst young designers if we are to see future innovations emerging," said James Dyson. "This award is about giving the next generation of engineers a head start." A panel of esteemed inventors and designers are tasked with choosing the top 15 entries to move forward to the final round.
Representing the US on the international judging panel is Frank Tyneski, former Executive Director of the ISDA and Skinit Product Development. Tyneski is already impressed with this year's entries, saying, "I've served as a judge for the JDA in years past, but this year's submissions are particularly inventive. It's going to be close."
About the James Dyson Foundation
The James Dyson Foundation is running the James Dyson Award. The Foundation is a registered charity, founded in 2002 with the aim of supporting design, technology and engineering education, medical research charities and local community projects. The James Dyson Foundation works with schools and universities in the UK and internationally. For more information on the James Dyson Award and the other semi-finalists, please visit http://www.jamesdysonaward.org.
Comment | Categories: Competitions/Awards
