European Community design prize for 1994
SPRINT, the EEC strategic programme for innovation and technology transfer (1989-1993) will launch a 1994 European Community Design Prize to encourage enterprises showing consistent application of design concepts in all areas of the manufacturing process, leading to the projection of an image of global quality. The SPRINT action, a joint initiative between the Commission and the design promotion organizations within the Member States, seeks to increase awareness of the importance of overall design considerations in small and medium-sized enterprises and among the business community at large. Its aim is to emphasise the role design plays in improving Community competitiveness in the global market. Award of the European Community Design Prize (EDIP) will be based on a national selection carried out in each Member State before October 1993. National organizers may nominate up to five companies from their country. Following this selection, an International Jury of designers, industrialists and design promoters will meet to select three outright EDIP winners and also to award a number of Honourable Mentions. European manufacturing companies with a maximum of 2,000 employees are eligible for the prize, and must clearly show an excellent use of design as a management tool, with outstanding performance in product design, graphic communication and environmental design. It is likely that a call for tenders will be launched shortly (to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities) concerning support to the Commission in the organization of this event.