THE AWARD

Design, understood as project discipline in the field of graphics, industry, space or architecture is increasingly today a cultural value with special repercussions on the economy. The “creative factor” is already a quantifying parameter: In a recent study, for example the Premsela Foundation set at 1% the contribution made by Dutch design to the whole Dutch economy. Similar figures are mentioned in other countries which, like the UK, are able to quantify the figure.

In times of off-shoring and crisis of industrial models, the creative elements applied to production seem to be one of the most efficient ways to give economic life momentum and increase productivity.

DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY

Addressing the serious environmental challenges of today without it hindering the living standarads we have been enjoying is a prime challenge all our capacities for innovation and research must focus on. Deploying all our capability to make industrial processes sustainable and the products we use and consume greener is nowadays a main social and economic priority. Finding practical solutions that mould new technological patterns to contribute to changes in our habits and production methods is today a priority.

Design may and must play an active role in the process of searching for new solutions.