DAME Design Awards Announces New Categories as Nomination Window Opens

The globally renowned DAME Design Awards at METSTRADE has opened for entries with new reimagined categories that reflect the rapidly changing nature of marine technology and the industry’s future customers.

The DAME is a truly unique competition that highlights the merits of excellent design in all its many facets. Everything is assessed, from functionality, and innovation, through to integration, practicality of use, price to performance ratio and presentation. Entrants must also explain how environmental impact reduction has been considered across the whole product design. Nominees and winners of this famous award enjoy valuable exposure from the well-deserved recognition of their successful products.

DAME entries in 2023 will be judged against eight completely new categories, redesigned in response to the evolving world around us. They reflect how end users are likely to interact with marine equipment in the future. They also accommodate major shifts of industry focus, such as moves towards interoperability, automation and alternative energy and propulsion.

Entries open

METSTRADE exhibitors are encouraged to submit entries online from now until the 16 September deadline. A month-long process of virtual and physical assessment will follow, led by a highly experienced Jury of 10 comprising leading boat, interior, and industrial designers, and user experts. In a final two-day product inspection meeting at RAI Convention Center Amsterdam, they select a nominated shortlist of entries, before identifying the best product in each category. An eventual DAME Design Awards overall winner is chosen from this best of the best list. Renowned yacht designer, Andre Hoek, will once again chair the Jury this year. 

DAME recognition at the heart of METSTRADE

All DAME nominated products benefit from high-profile presence on an expansive special showcase within the heart of METSTRADE in Hall 13. Category Winners and the eventual DAME Design Award Overall Winner are announced at the METSTRADE/ICOMIA Breakfast Briefing in front of many industry peers on the first day of the show. The DAME Jury also awards a series of Special Mentions and a discretionary Environmental Design Winner. 

Additional exposure

The DAME is indisputably a key highlight of the year for the whole marine equipment sector. Winning and nominated companies benefit greatly from additional exposure of their products and increased commercial success. The DAME also provides valuable recognition for the often-unsung heroes behind many of the industry’s great marine equipment designs. 

Winner of the DAME 2022 overall winner, Ocean Signal, capitalized on the success and exposure afforded by such a high-profile achievement for its rescueME PLB3. The company’s Managing Director James Hewitt said: “We are delighted to receive recognition from the DAME Jury. The team here dedicated many hours to perfecting an advanced Personal Locator Beacon to save thousands of lives, so it is hugely rewarding to receive this prestigious industry award.”

New DAME Categories

The DAME Categories are all completely new for this year, with revised focus on a product’s purpose and application to assist judging. The category headings are followed by a brief explanation illustrating where a boat user or marine industry professional might encounter the products being entered:

Personal equipment: If I was going on a charter, had a boat share arrangement, went boating with a friend or have my own boat, what would my personal kit be?

Comfort & Entertainment afloat: If I don’t want to go boating in a bare hull, what kinds of equipment am I likely to need to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of all afloat?

Navigation & Communication: If I was on the helm of a boat or bridge of a superyacht, what electronics and other equipment would I use to control and safely navigate it?

Electronic & Electrical systems: If I need electrical power anywhere in the boat or to make networkable devices speak to each other, what systems and equipment would I use?

Propulsion & Dynamics: If I want to move, steer, stabilise and trim the boat, what machinery and systems will I use?

Deck equipment: If I am sailing, mooring, anchoring and using the outdoor spaces on my boat, what hardware and equipment will I use?

Security and safety aboard: What is the equipment aboard that serves specifically to keep my boat secure, safe and capable of dealing with emergencies afloat?

Shoreside equipment & Materials: What are all the items of off-vessel equipment, hardware, materials and software that help to construct and then support my boat from cradle to grave?

The jury will additionally name a product from among the field of DAME nominations as an Environmental Design Award winner if it finds an exemplar product that is well designed and has clear and obvious merit.