• Winner of Red Dot Design Concept awards announced

A Massey University design technician and recent graduate, Sian Hosking Berge, came top in the recent international Red Dot Design Concept awards with a Best of the Best award for her BOU Bike, a kitset ride-on for children aged two to five years. (Check out the BOU Bike in action here.)

Assembled collaboratively, BOU provides a building experience, fostering communication and connection between child and caregiver. Using basic tools, a selection of BOU components and oversized fasteners gives children the opportunity to build and transform their own balance bike or scooter.

Ms Hosking Berge, who graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Hons) in industrial design, says she’s thrilled to hear of the award, which is awarded for ‘the highest design quality’. “As a child I spent hours in my grandfather's workshop learning, creating and then playing with my creations. This formative experience inspired me to design something that provided the same experience without the need for extensive tools.

“I am thrilled by the recognition from Red Dot for my design. Through the BOU Bike, children can own their experience of making, creating a fun ride-on product relevant to them,” she says.

Six other projects from Massey School of Design staff and graduates were awarded a coveted Red Dot, and one graduate project was awarded an honourable mention. Notable examples were the design of the Wildbase Rehabilitation Centre in Palmerston North, by senior lecturer Tanya Marriott, and Floodscape, a tsunami education and warning application for mobile devices, designed by senior tutor Klaus Kremer.

Red Dot is an international design competition with winners selected by expert juries in the areas of product design, communication design and design concepts. The distinction “Red Dot” has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design and is open to all, including professional design studios and manufacturers.

Massey University submitted 34 designs and received eight awards, a 23.5 per cent success rate, compared to a six per cent success rate for entries to the Red Dot awards overall.

Associate Professor Industrial Design Rodney Adank says the Red Dot awards highlight the exceptional quality of work produced by Massey students, graduates and staff. “The Red Dot Design Concept awards accept submissions from designers, design studios and manufacturers around the world. As such our graduate successes are notable and place us at the top of international design innovation.

“The awards celebrate creativity and innovation that brings meaningful value to human experience, and the outstanding work of our graduates contributes towards creating an innovative, high-value manufacturing sector in New Zealand.”

Red Dot confers annual international design rankings, which ranked Massey’s School of Design #2 in the Asia Pacific region in 2018.

The awards will be given out in a ceremony on 25 September in Singapore.