Out of 340 designs nominated by the world's leading design institutions, the jury has shortlisted 112 top nominated products and services that meet the INDEX: requirement of Design to Improve Life.


Addressing Global Problems

All in all, the 112 designs represent all seven continents of the world. They address such diverse problems as water shortage, CO2 emissions, health, environmental sustainability as well as health and safety at work.


Design to Improve Life

Rather than focusing exclusively on form, the INDEX: jury also looks at the design’s context from ethical and cultural points of view and at the design’s societal effect, including the sustainability of the design and the actual need for it.

“In this way, the INDEX: AWARD is different from all other design awards in the world,” said Kigge Hvid, CEO of INDEX:, at today’s press conference, when the top nominated designs were announced.

Electric Cars and Watery Walls

The chairman of the international INDEX: jury, Nille Juul-Sørensen, who is head of the design department of Arup, London, the world’s largest engineering company, was also at the press conference. He presented a number of top nominated designs from countries throughout the world, including the Tesla Roadster electric sports car; the HydroWall, which stores heat and water for later use; and the washing machine for the future, Airwash, which washes clothes without using water and detergents.


Winning Designers to Be Celebrated on August 24

With 112 life-improving designs to choose from, Juul-Sørensen and the other members of the international jury are facing a tough job selecting the five winning designs. The winners will be celebrated at an award ceremony at Copenhagen City Hall on August 24, and all the top nominated designs will be displayed at the outdoor INDEX: AWARD EXHIBITION on Kgs. Nytorv square in Copenhagen from August 17.


For further information concerning this press release, please contact Head of Press Helena Lowskij on +45 40 61 78 10 or at .

INDEX: DESIGN TO IMPROVE LIFE

HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark is patron of INDEX: 2007

Main Partners – The Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, The City of Copenhagen, The Capital Region of Denmark, Georg Jensen A/S, Illums Bolighus, DI.

Foundations – The Tuborg Foundation, Nordea Danmark-fonden, JL-Fondet, Politiken-Fonden, The European Social Fund, The Oticon Foundation.

Supply Partners – Damgaard-Jensen A/S, The Square Hotel Copenhagen, Dansikring A/S, Seelite A/S, Vink AS, Politiken, Montana.


Source: INDEX

CONTACT: Helena Lowskij, INDEX: Head of Press, T: , C:

Website: www.indexaward.dk