The First INDEX: awards were recently presented in Copenhagen, Denmark. What is INDEX:? ‘The New World Arena for Future Design & Innovation.’

According to this article in BusinessWeek Online, ‘…dime-a-dozen design competitions take place every month, usually grabbing attention only within the cozy confines of the profession design community.’ Initiated by the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs and the City of Copenhagen, INDEX: is supported by companies, private foundations and public institutions. The goal of INDEX: is to be ‘the new world arena for future design and innovation.’ Nominated products are required to have been created in the past five years, be genuinely new, and able to ‘improve human life.’

A 100,000 Euro (+/-$121,000) prize is awarded to each winner in five categories including Body, Home, Work, Play and Community. Taking place every four yours, the first INDEX: award ceremony was held last week on September 23rd.

This year’s winners included…

Body Category
Lifestraw(TM)

‘…brings clean water to people in the third world on an individual level and making people less dependent on others for safe drinking water. With LifeStraw(TM) everyone from school kids to farmers will find it convenient to sip water from any source. It is a safe and user friendly tool which eliminates disease causing bacteria, viruses and parasites. LifeStraw(TM) can prevent waterborne diseases like diphtheria, cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea – diseases that kill millions each year.

Home Category
Softwall

‘…dynamically partitions large open rooms and spaces into more intimate and personal surroundings of any shape. Unlike fixed walls or conventional partitioning systems, softwall is ever-changing and can form space in a spontaneous, flexible and ephemeral way. The compressed softwall is small, lightweight, and highly transportable, and when needed can be easily and instantly expanded up to 300 times its size. softwall dampens sound and can both absorb and transmit light. Paper softwall is made from recycled material and is 100% recyclable.

Community Category
Siyathemba

Architecture for Humanity is a nonprofit organization and network designed in 1999 to promote architectural and design solutions to global or humanitarian crises. Examples of the impressive work the network does are the quick reactions to help people in deep need after the Tsunami and the hurricane, Katrina. Through competitions, workshops, educational forums, etc. Architecture for Humanity creates opportunities for architects and designers to help communities in need. Where resources and expertise are scarce this network makes amazing differences.

Play Category
Apple iTunes, iPod

iPod together with Apple’s iTunes software is truly changing the way people experience their music. iPod allows a music fan to have their entire music collection with them anytime, anywhere. The iTunes software provides unparalleled ease of use for organization and sharing of music as well as recorded literature and images. Playlists can be shared with other computers across a network via Apple’s Bonjour technology. iTunes secures that music users pay for their music.

Work Category
Observatorio Iberoamericano para la Artesan