With over 4,000 entries from 40 countries, the red dot design award ranks among the largest design competitions worldwide. The competition is divided into three sections - product design, communication design and design concept - which are staged and adjudicated separately. The coveted trophy is the red dot, the international seal of quality for outstanding design.

But the red dot is more than just the seal of quality from a competition: it stands for acceptance among the very best in design and business. Come on in: welcome to the world of the red dot!

A broad interpretation of the categories is expected. The suggested list for each category is not fully exhaustive and shall not be limiting in creativity and manifestation.

Mobility
Vehicles, automation, mass transportation, boats, planes, hybrid-amphibious vehicles, remote control robotics

Domestic Aid
Vacuum cleaner, washing machines, blenders, ovens, dishwashers, cooker, boiler

Entertainment
Audio system, television, MP3 players, digital cameras, video cameras

Interior
Sofas, kitchen, chair, lighting, lamps, cutlery, accessories, interior decoration

Productivity
Personal digital assistance, computers, scanners, copiers

Workplace
Filing system, desk, chair, office productivity devices, study lamps, system furniture

Interaction & Communication
Mobile phones, messaging devices, 3G devices, remote conferencing, presentation and meeting facilitation, wireless communication and positioning devices.

Habitat
Architecture, mobile homes, capsules, intelligent homes, urban design, disaster rapid deployment housing, tents, marquee, low cost housing, bomb shelter

Life Science
Health enhancing devices, massage chairs, medical devices, artificial limps, hearing aid, exercise and gym equipment

Safety
Security system, gas leakage detectors, safety helmets, masks, boots, biochemical suits, law enforcement devices, non-lethal alternative weapons

Green
Urban sustainable design, environment, energy conservation, alternative energy, recycle, reuse

Fashion
Watches, eyewear, clothes, bags, footwear, jewellery, travel accessories and bags

Recreation
Sports, computer gaming, board games, toys

Prints
Newspapers, magazines, posters, brochure, catalogues, corporate identity, publishing, books

Multimedia
Interactive media, website, online advertising, animations

Broadcast
Trailers, animations, variety programs, short film, TV commercials, documentary

Packaging
Eco-friendly, products, food

The red dot design concept award is the third installation of the existing red dot award of pedigree heritage. Following closely to its predecessor, its seriousness and international credibility shall be similarly channelled through the rigor and qualification of a selected independent jury panel.

competition details

Entitlement to Enter
Designers, agencies, design studios, companies, research laboratories, inventors and design professionals and students from anywhere in the world are invited to enter. All kinds of inventions, innovations, novelty design and aesthetic design that are not in the market are eligible for submissions. All entrants may submit as many works as they wished.

Closing Date and Deliveries
Entries may be made from 1st March 2005 until 31st July 2005.

Submissions
Entries can be submitted online or via registered mail.

Registration Fee
USD180, including tax

Multiple Entries Discount

Early Bird Discounts
Entrants submitting work by 30th April 2005 will receive a further 15% discount on registration fee.

Return of Entries
For organizational reasons, works entered in the form of photographs, prototypes, model, books, illustrations, rendering, CDs, forms and any other items shall not be returned unless it is specifically indicated during registration. To return, an administrative fee of USD50 will be levied and entrant will bear the cost of delivery.

Award Ceremony & Celebration Party
An award ceremony and an all night post-award celebration party will be held in November 2005 in Singapore.

The red dot award surpasses the defined perimeters of the competition.

Winning a red dot award sets in motion a snowball of events holistically packaged to communicate the value and impact of each winning design. The sum of activities connected with it results in the creation of a unique context, focusing the interest of the market and media on the subject of design quality.

Each winning entry is entitled to the following post award winner services to celebrate the achievement.

PROTECTING YOUR DESIGNS

Introduction
The following is a brief and cursory introduction to the various forms of intellectual property protection which may be accorded to you in relation to your designs. As always, it is advisable for you to seek proper independent legal advice concerning your specific situation.

Registered Designs - Protection of Shape/Configuration
The law of Registered Designs serves to protect your design as a shape, configuration, pattern or ornament applied to an article by an industrial process. Simply put, the law of Registered Designs serves to protect the visual appearance of your design. Registering your design is a very effective way of informing other designers/third parties of your protected works; in addition, it confers the right to prevent others from using your design without your permission.

Depending on the relevant jurisdiction, a registered design can last for a maximum period of fifteen years. Once registered, your design may be commercially exploited with the reassurance of ownership rights and is capable of being assigned, mortgaged, licensed etc.

Patents - Protection of Inventions/Ideas
On a general level, the law of patents serves to protect novel or new inventions, products and processes which usually bear some form of utilitarian function. As an example, if your design is that of a table which is purely esthetic in nature (and does not include any new uses of an otherwise ordinary table), then filing a patent is probably NOT advisable.

However, you might want to consider the option of filing a patent in relation to your design if your design bears some form of utilitarian function, process or method that may be entirely novel or new. As an example, if the study lamp that you are designing also encompasses an entirely novel way of illumination whilst saving energy, and if the idea is one that nobody else has probably conceived/developed before, then filing a patent might be an option.

The filing of a patent is generally more complex and therefore, usually more costly than filing your registered design. Depending on the relevant jurisdiction, if your patent is granted, you would be given a monopoly on your idea/invention for a maximum of twenty years, and over this period, to commercially exploit it through licensing, manufacture, marketing, selling etc.

Generally, and depending on the relevant jurisdiction, you would automatically have copyright over any of the drawings, design sketches and specifications created by you without any need for you to register such copyright. However, if these works were created by you whilst under the direction and employ of an employer and using the employer's equipment and premises, then such employer would bear copyright ownership instead.

Always Seek Legal Advice
Intellectual Property law is a complex area of law, and it is always advisable to seek legal advice concerning the most appropriate and most cost-effective means of obtaining proper protection for your designs. At the end of the day, you would have probably spent considerable time, resources and effort in the conception and development of your design and it is only right that you seek appropriate protection for your creative efforts without having to spend too much money.

Seek the advice of a reputable law firm within your jurisdiction/country (or within such other jurisdictions that you may wish to exploit your design/invention). This brief cannot serve as a substitute for proper advice.

red dot Competition
Participating in the competition does not compromise your intellectual property rights. This is because there is sufficient time between knowing the result and the announcement to file for protection of the winning concepts before it is announced to the public.

The adjudication process takes place in August and all winners will be notified not later than 31st August 2005. A concept that does not win is not announced and remains anonymous to the public. Only winning concepts will be revealed during the award gala and celebration in November 2005. Hence, winners have at least 2 months to file for protection.

contacts

Ms Leong Su Ming

red dot Singapore
391B Orchard Road #13-09
Ngee Ann City Tower B
Singapore 238874

Phone +65 6838 1061
Fax +65 6838 0003
Email suming@red-dot.sg
www.red-dot.de