METSTRADE: 58 products nominated for DAME Design Awards 2024

METSTRADE has announced that 58 products from 28 countries have been nominated for the final rounds of the 33rd DAME Design Awards. The winners will be revealed on the first day of the event, 19 November 2024.

Following a detailed online review process, the DAME Design Awards jury, composed of nine design and user experts, gathered at RAI Amsterdam for hands-on evaluations. This year’s jury includes a sustainability consultant and a master’s-level design student, adding fresh perspectives to the team’s expertise.  

Out of 114 submissions, 58 products were nominated after two days of assessments. From these, winners will be selected for each of the eight DAME categories, and one overall DAME Design Award will be presented. The jury also confirmed it will announce a discretionary Environmental Design Award for the third year in succession.

The winners will be announced at the METSTRADE 2024 Breakfast Briefing, which will take place at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre on 19 November. The event will feature a keynote speech by Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Operations for the NYYC American Magic America’s Cup team. Entry fees for this year’s awards will be donated to SailWise, a Dutch organisation that offers water sports activities for people with physical or sensory disabilities.

The full list of nominations is now available online. All 58 nominated products will be displayed in a dedicated area at METSTRADE, located in Hall 13 (Elicium). A panel featuring the overall DAME Design Awards winner will also take place at the METSTRADE Theatre. Details of the winners will be published on Marine Industry News shortly after the announcement.

Sustainability in focus for the 2024 DAME Design Award nominations

Andre Hoek, chair of the DAME jury, comments: “It was very encouraging to see such a strong field of entries spanning the whole of the leisure marine sector, with products for people and the smallest boats right up to high-end superyacht equipment. You can see accelerating trends among the entries, such as the move towards electrification. There were welcome examples too of how sustainable design and the evolution of alternative materials are gaining traction.”

He adds: “Smart design unlocks the door to a fully sustainable approach, not just for improvement in obvious areas like manufacturing and recyclability, but also longevity, usability and serviceability.”

The jury for 2024 includes several new members. Electronics expert Ben Stein replaces Ben Ellison, who retired from the jury last year, and yacht designer Klaus Roeder returned after last serving in 2014. The jury also welcomed sustainability consultant Amy Munro and TU Delft student Olaf Bouwens.

METSTRADE director Niels Klarenbeek adds: “From my own experience on the water, I know that well-designed marine equipment is essential for the enjoyment and safety of all participants. For 33 years, the DAME Design Awards have encouraged and inspired METSTRADE exhibitors and visitors to push the boundaries of exceptional design across all disciplines.

“We look forward to showcasing this impressive group of nominees within the DAME Design Awards showcase in November and celebrating the winners at the METSTRADE Breakfast Briefing on 19 November.”

DAME jury 2024

This year’s DAME jury is made up of nine individuals:

• Andre Hoek (chair), naval architect and yacht designer, founder of Hoek Design and Hoek Brokerage, The Netherlands.
• Olaf Bouwens, student, Master’s in Integrated Product Design at TUDelft, The Netherlands.
• Davide Cipriani, boat and industrial designer, president of yacht design at Centrostiledesign, Italy.
• Rory Coase, yacht designer, Coase Design, Norway.
• Ben Stein, editor of Panbo marine electronics hub, USA.
• Arjen Jansen, senior lecturer, school for Industrial Design Engineering at TUDelft, The Netherlands.
• Amy Munroe, sustainability consultant, Foxall Munro, UK.
• Olivier Racoupeau, naval architect and boat designer, founder and owner of Berret Racoupeau Yachts, France (attended remotely).
• Klaus Roeder, yacht designer and surveyor, Technical Consultant DBSV Icomia, Germany. 

The DAME Jury is supported by a non-voting secretary, Kim Hollamby of Hollamby Partnership, UK.

2024 DAME Design Awards categories

Winners will be chosen from the following categories:

• Personal equipment
• Comfort & entertainment afloat
• Navigation & communication
• Electronic & electrical systems
• Propulsion & dynamics
• Deck equipment
• Security & safety aboard
• Shoreside equipment & materials

The overall DAME Design Awards winner will be selected from these category winners. An additional Environmental Design Award may also be granted to a product demonstrating significant environmental merit.