sabs awards 09
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SPECIAL REPORT: SABS AWARDS 09 INDUSTRIAL DESIGN > Design reflects change. Change as the norm, not the exception, reflects how South Africa and the world has changed. “Yet 40 years later, the ordinary person in the street continues to ask the obvious. ‘Where in our market are our goods? Where do we buy South African designed products?” asks Linda Mvusi, chair- person of the SABS Design Excellence Awards 20 0 9 adjudication panel on the 40 th anniversary of the awards scheme.TRANSCRIPT
SPECIAL REPORT: SABS AWARDS 09
Design reflects change. Change as the norm, not the exception, reflects how South Africa and the world has changed. “Yet 40�� years later, the ordinary person in the street continues to ask the obvious. ‘Where in our market are our goods? Where do we buy South African designed products?” asks Linda Mvusi, chair-person of the SABS Design Excellence Awards 20��0��9��� adjudication panel on the 40��th anniversary of the awards scheme.
Mvisi, an architect with around 30��-years’ of experience knows what she is talking about. Trained in Ghana and the UK, she has practised in several countries before settling in her country of birth, where she has served on the adjudication panels of the SABS’ various design awards for more than a decade.
While reflecting on the adjudication of the 20��0��9��� Awards,
Mvusi ponders on an important scenario: “South Africa
DESIGN IS ABOUT THE FUTURE:THE TIME
TO CHANGE TRACk IS NOW
Linda Mvusi, chairperson of the SABS Design Excellence Awards 2009 share some insights with Prof. Singh and Dr Bonakele Mehlomakulu, CEO of the SABS.
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pays a hefty premium by continually valuing extraction
industries and manufacturing for export at the expense
of industrial production the manufacturing of South
African design for our domestic economy. Will South
Africa continue to pay northwards of 5% of our real
Gross National Product in Intellectual Property, billions
of Rands in fees and royalties for other countries’
ideas? I hope not.”
Mvusi boldly exclaims that: “Hope is not a plan!” and
explains: “The problem is not design, education or the
‘much-ness’ of our material resources. The global eco-
nomic downturn is fortuitous for a country with our
socio-political-economic demographics. It reveals struc-
tural failure in our national mind-set. By and large, in
the past, we rewarded respectful conformism and
benchmarked minimal standards. We ostracised free-
thinkers, creative intellectuals, dissidents and crimi-
nalised the notion of having the courage to fail.”
She continues: “The time to change track is now” and
claims that the SABS Design Excellence Awards 20��0��9���
is a good news story: “positive proof that a country’s
wealth is not in material resources, but in people’s intel-
lectual creativity. Design is scaled at life itself, not the
design object or complex system. In an ideas-driven,
creative global economy, design and design-thinking
is pivotal.”
In October, 18 South African designed products received
SABS Design Excellence Awards, representing what
Mvusi terms ‘pivotal design-thinking’.
Although the products were not in competition with
each other, The Snuza Baby Monitor received the Chair-
person’s Award for the product that most inspired the
adjudication panel. Snuza, designed by …XYZ, Savant
and ID&B, is a new generation baby monitor that allows
mobile monitoring of a baby’s breathing.
…XYZ also received awards for its design of the Touch-
mart TAP, a solution to enable the general public to
access a broad range of products and services using
The Snuza Baby Monitor, designed by ...XYZ, Savant and ID&B.
payment methods that are accessible to them, and
for the Stopak Jumbo Inflator that is used in the trans-
port of produce in road freight vehicles.
Most of the other awards went to the home and office
ware category. These included the Kubic Innovator
LED system; the Willow Lamp Moonflower Range of
The Moonflower Range, designed by Willowlamp.
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Chandeliers which also received a host of other
awards in recent times; the Vector gate-opening
system; the Cobra range of taps and accessories
and the SKALA business furniture system. The latter
two recipients were both designed by one of Africa’s
most prolific industrial designers, Brian Steinhobel.
The Cobra range is also one of the rare high-end sig-
nature sanitary product ranges designed by African
designers in recent years.
In the medical and healthcare category, the Stim-
pod, a nerve-locating device also received and
award, while in the leisure and sport goods catego-
ry, the new age scuba diving flippers, Seawing Nova
and the nifty Ybike, a huge improvement on chil-
dren’s plastic scooters, received awards. and This
year again saw a pool cleaner, the Superbug, being
recognised awarded, highlighting South Africa’s ex-
emplary track record in the swimming pool equip-
ment market.
In line with products solving real African problems,
the Lifewise Eco-Loo was honoured awarded. This
cistern doubles up as a washbasin and clears the
toilet bowl of urine, if the person using it washes
his or her hands for 20�� seconds. This innovative
product solves two problems in one go – not only
does it save water, but it also enforces hygiene
through hand washing.
As is the case of the past 40�� years, engineering prod-
ucts again stood out this year. These include the GALT
Road/ Rail Vehicle, the Kaoko™ Throttle Control for
motorcycles, and the Puzey on-road, off-road motorcy-
cle. And on the electronics front, the Command and
Control Backpack, aimed at the military market, and
the Sola-lite™ also received awards. Sola-Lite™ is
modular and upgradeable a solar-powered LED
Lighting System that comes in a DIY kit form with
detailed instructions and is specifically designed for
homes or buildings that require lighting but may not
be connected to the national electricity grid.
In her reflection of this year’s award winners, Mvusi
comments that: “A significant proportion of entrants
were small-medium and family enterprises – wives
and husbands, siblings, parents and their children
offspring – the sector most resilient with ways and
means in a turbulent economy.” She notes that: “The
overall standard was higher than previous years, re-
flecting deepening design consciousness, and sur-
passing ‘problem solving’ and competence per se:
> The designs articulated new ways of thinking, em-
bracing responsibility for real issues. Primarily tools
for perception, not just ‘objects in space’, they clar-
ified purpose, meaning and use through legible
metaphors, articulating rich relationships between
people and objects.
> They evolved through collaboration between users
and designers, for in reality no one knows the aspira-
tions and actual activities of users affected by design
than users themselves.
> The designers tailored technology and materials to
users’ cultural and psychological needs, anticipating
and accommodating future change.
> Outstanding products were strategically designed
beyond clients’ protocols, re-organising corporations
for to accommodate user-responsiveness, not just
user-friendliness.
> ‘Fail-Safe’ Design – designing products and systems
to fail without disaster – is exciting. It acknowledges
as an appreciation that old and new technologies
can, do and should co-exist and be integrated and
complementary side by side.”
Mvusi concludes that: “This is people-centred design
at its best! The SABS Design Excellence 20��0��9��� Awards
embody critical values for a new, design-thinking
South Africa.” In line with this statement, DESIGN>
reviewed the successes of five of this year’s winners.
CENTURION SYSTEMS
Centurion Systems is a manufacturer of security and
access control products. Their product categories include
gate automation, proximity access control systems,
remote controls and receivers, high volume and man-
ual traffic barriers (boom poles), intercom systems
and related accessories.
Established in 19���86, Centurion Systems has always had
a culture of innovation. , and tasks itself Its mission is
to become a worldclass leader in the access automation
industry. Centurion started off Starting in a temporary
hut in managing director, Pat Dickens’ (MD) garden, the
firm . It soon had to find much larger premises and has
been moving every four to five years since. Today it boasts
a purpose-built factory of 15 0��0��0�� m2 incorporating robot-
ics and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes.
Since its inception, Centurion Systems has pioneered
many world-firsts such as battery backed-up gate motors
The Vector, designed by Centurion Systems.
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and the use of high torque DC motors. Their manufactur-
ing processes are is being continually upgraded and
its factory is fully compliant with the requirements of
ISO 9���0��0��1:20��0��0�� to ensure the highest quality. The com-
pany invests considerable amounts in its R&D programme
and has , with 15 qualified engineers to research new
and innovate products to add to the its range.
According to Marketing Manager, Adam Butchart:
“Without continuous investment in R&D, our company
would find itself joining the ranks of its competitors –
following the trends rather than creating them. Clever
design, together with an intimate understanding of the
manufacturing process, helps to drive down unit costs,
a factor critical to remaining competitive. In certain
cases, the introduction of innovative features justi-
fies higher selling prices, thereby maintaining our
competitive edge as well as our profitability.”
Over the past 23 years, the company has brought
more than 50�� products to the market, of which more
than 40�� are currently available. Even more encourag-
ing is that all products are manufactured at the com-
pany’s factory in North Riding, South Africa, and their
exports currently span five continents.
When asked what makes the Vector a worthy winner
of the 20��0��9��� SABS Design Excellence Award, Butchart
remarks: “The use of a novel centrifugal braking system
allowed the designers to focus on developing a highly
efficient epicyclic gear train. This allows a smaller
motor to be used, while still delivering class-leading
performance. The choice of stainless steel, aluminium
and plastic materials ensures a lifetime of corrosion free
operation. Quadrature position sensing and a closed
loop speed control system ensure that the operator
stops smoothly and accurately at the ends of travel.
A fully featured electronic controller, with LCD user
interface, ensures ease of use and enough flexibility
to overcome the majority of installation challenges.”
CHROME CHERRY DESIGN STUDIO
Established in 20��0��4, Chrome Cherry Design Studio (CCDS)
was founded as an outlet for the creativity of its share-
holders, five lifelong friends. Their skills and experience
stretch over span various design fields including indus-
trial design, automotive, exhibition design, aerospace,
furniture design and even film.
Launched two years ago, YBIKE is the first product
conceptualised, owned, manufactured and marketed
by CCDS and is currently available in nine countries with
others following soon. Since then it has won awards at
the SA Toy of the Year 20��0��7 and SABS Design Excellence
Awards 20��0��9���. Surprisingly, for the adjudication of SA
Toy of the Year 20��0��7, the judges only had a prototype
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to judge and YBIKE competed against world brands
such as Fisher Price, Mattel, Barbie and Lego.
Jean van der Merwe says: “We at CCDS are firm believers
in that not only good functional design, but more im-
portantly also the aesthetics of design are important
integral to our company’s development, sustainabil-
ity and competitiveness. We understand the changes
in a increasingly design conscious society and strive to
develop products out that meet this need. Why can
products not also be objects of beauty?”
When asked what makes the YBIKE a worthy winner
of the 20��0��9��� SABS Design Excellence Award, van der
Merwe responds that: “The YBIKE may seem to be just
another plastic ride-on, but every single aspect in its
design, both functional and aesthetically, was re-
searched and addressed. It passes complies with all
applicable international toy safety laws and was tested
by the Sport Science Institute and found to be very
beneficial to the development of gross motor skills in
young children. There are no short-cuts, from the choice
of injection moulding – which is expensive – through
material choices and place of manufacture, everything
was done with reason.”
Van der Merwe adds : “Being recognised by the SABS
Design Institute has capped off an incredible two years
since the launch of YBIKE. The award recognises the
work and effort that has gone into such a visually
simple product. We are determined to be at the
awards again in 20��10��.”
IDESO
Founded in 19���9���8, Ideso is a specialist industrial design
consultancy based in Cape Town. Its essential concern
is to take a potential product or ideas through the entire
product development cycle until an actual manufac-
tured product is on the shelves. This includes concept
design, material and process research, visualisation,
photographically realistic rendering, design for manufac-
ture prototyping, tooling, packaging project management
and manufacture.
“Design is our life. It is in everything we do. Our aim is to
design products that significantly improve our customer’s
competitiveness. Only by designing great products can
we expect to remain sustainable,” says Marc Ruwiel.
He explains: “We have designed over 350�� products in
the last 11 years. Of these, more than 30��0�� have gone
into production and at least 20��0�� of these are still in
production.”
Ideso-designed products are available all over the
world. “The USA and the UK are popular export des-
tinations, particularly for plastics and homewares.
Several of our medical products are sold in Germany
and in the Netherlands. The planters we designed for
Styler are available in the Middle East. We have also
designed collapsible horse stalls for a company based
in the USA, two-way radio chargers for a company
based in Hong Kong and a modem and tracking de-
vice for the UAE coast guard.” And he adds that: “It is
always fun to see products one has designed in a
completely unexpected and foreign setting.”
The sturdy Command & Control backpack that won a
SABS Design Excellence Award was a surprise entry
in the ICT category because it is a housing system for
such products rather than an actual ICT product. Ruwiel
explains: “We believe that it is the combination of ergo-
nomics, strength and fit suitability for purpose” that
secured this award. This range product is more than
a mere backpack because they are it is intended to house
sophisticated and fragile communication devices
which need to ‘survive when being parachute dropped The Command & Control backpack, designed by Ideso.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN >
from a plane or dropped onto a concrete floor from a
truck. While it must , yet still protect its contents, it must
also and be comfortable to carry for a wide variety of
people. It needs to do all this while weighing a fraction
of the equipment that it supports. It may not be the
prettiest product we have ever designed, but it is cer-
tainly practical.”
KAOKO™ THROTTLE CONTROL
The Kaoko™ Throttle Control was formulated in 20��0��2
by a South African adventure rider, Roy Mentis, while on
a long distance trip through the Kaokoveld in Namibia,
one of the last true wildernesses in the world. Mentis
explains that today, the company’s core business entails
the manufacture and marketing of one of the simplest
and most effective friction type throttle controls avail-
able worldwide.
In 20��0��2 the first Kaoko™ Throttle Controls were designed
for BMW motorcycles. Through their huge popularity,
and by demand for other makes of motorcycles, R&D
became an on going process, as the controls are bike-
specific and purpose designed. Currently over 10��0��
models are available and since 20��0��5, the Kaoko™
Control has enjoyed exponential sales growth.
“Design plays a major role. The Kaoko™ Throttle
Controls has earned the reputation as a market leader.
Kaoko™ vigorously keeps abreast of new motorcycle
models and designs and markets new kits accordingly”,
says Mentis. Unique features of the Kaoko™ Throttle
Controls include: 5-year functional guarantees; the
products are fully CNC machined; they are simple to
install and takes less than 10�� minutes to fit; they are
simple to operate, even with heavy winter gloves;
they are safe as they cannot lock and can be overridden
in an instant; and the products are readily available
internationally.
In addition to the Throttle Controls, Kaoko™ has also
developed a high-tech long-range fuel tank for BMW
The Kaoko™ Throttle Controls, designed by Kaoko™.
bikes and numerous designs of soft luggage for motor-
cycles. Mainly manufactured in South Africa, the com-
pany exports its products to the USA, Canada, all over
Europe and Australia.
…XYZ
Formed in 19���9���9���, …XYZ has grown into one of South
Africa’s largest industrial design consultancies, pro-
viding companies locally and internationally with
award winning and market capturing solutions. The
Cape Town-based consultancy has experience in devel-
oping products for a range of applications, from complex
socio-technical environments, to ergonomic intensive
tools, to rugged industrial goods. Their diverse knowl-
edge of 12 professionals encourages cross-pollination
between technologies and provides clients with a fresh
access approach to new markets. They describe their
core business as “linking society and technology
through product innovation and incubation.”
When asked about the role that design plays in the company’s development, sustainability and competi-tiveness, Design Director Byron Qually responds: “Design thinking is used throughout our business, from extrapolating a client’s true requirements or to planning a the products for mass production. The real essence of good design practice is to manage issues of sustainability, consumerism, innovation and recycling, amongst others.”
…XYZ has developed more than 10��0�� products that em-body multiple components and diverse technologies, of which 71 products have reached the marketplace in the past ten years. Depending on the client’s existing network, quality expectations, production volume and design for assembly considerations, the company manufactures in South Africa, China, India, Singapore and Portugal.
Describing the three products that won SABS Design Excellence Awards in 20��0��9���, Qually says: “The Snuza Baby Monitor and Stopak Jumbo Inflator, respectively assist in managing the safety of individuals and cargo. The Touchmart TAP, being a mobile and standalone solution, has empowered users with access to a broad range of products and services that were previously inaccessible. All three products have constructively contributed to the well-being and development of the market society.”
Commenting on their winning streak at various awards schemes over the past few years, Qually says ”The SABS Awards bring international recognition and credibility to the South African product development community. The scheme, in part, provides an audit of product quality for export potential and an indication of skills sets that can compete globally. …XYZ has won 20�� awards, been featured on five international exhibitions, and has its products as part of the per-manent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.”
These five companies exemplify what Mvusi describes
as “people-centred design at its best!” >Stopak Jumbo Inflator (top) and the Touchmart TAP, designed by ...XYZ.
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