Electrolux launches 2008 Design Lab competition

2008, Electrolux have announced the opening of their annual design competition for 2008. Aimed at industrial design students from all over the world, this year's theme is “Designs for the Internet Generation” and the brief is to design an innovative, cutting-edge product that addresses food storage, cooking, and/or washing with a view 2 to 3 years into the future.

The "Internet generation" is defined as young professionals aged between 25-35, who are concerned about their environment, brand-aware and technologically savvy.

“We are looking for daring ideas and solutions,” says Henrik Otto, Head of Global Design at Electrolux. “Entries should reflect the iGeneration’s core interests and concerns like mobility, convenience, time, materials, personalization, entertaining, technology, and sustainability.”

The 2007 Design Lab competition was won by Levente Szabó from Moholy-Nagy University of Art & Design, Hungary who designed an eco-friendly compact washing machine which uses soap nuts instead of detergent.

This is the sixth Design Lab competition and entries must be submitted via the Electrolux Design Lab website by May 30, 2008. The international jury will then select a limited number of entries based on design, innovation and consumer insight to compete in the finals to be held in Zurich on October 8 & 9, 2008. The first prize is 5,000 Euro (approx. US $7,250) and a six-month internship at one of Electrolux’s global design centers, the second and third prizes are 3,000 Euro and 2,000 Euro respectively.

For more information, including photos of last year’s finalists and videos from last year see the Design Labwebsite.