Intelligent devices clinch ecodesign prizes

A compact rainwater tank for people short of space, an energy-saving water boiler that allows you to boil only what you need, a medical inhaler that can be reused and recycled at the end of life, headphones made from environmentally friendly materials, a refugee shelter and scarves crafted from recycled drink cups are among the winning entries of the inaugural EcoDesign Excellence Award, announced by EcoRecycle Victoria last night.

Presented by EcoRecycle Victoria, the EcoDesign Excellence Award aims to support and encourage industrial design students from RMIT University to explore environmentally oriented product design.

The winners are:

First Year Winner: Melissa Voderberg - Recycling fotty drink cups into scarves;

First Year Runner Up: Andrew Ellemore - Rainwater tank;

Second Year Winner: Stuart McFarlane – ‘Vamp and Felt’ sounds headphones;

Second Year Runner Up: Lisa Vincitorio – ‘EcoScreen and Ceiling Tile’;

Third Year Winner: Karl Baxter – ‘Sqeezhaler’ Dry Powder Asthma Inhaler;

Third Year Runner Up: Anneli Johansson – ‘Aquarius’ Water Station;

Honours Year Winner: Charity Teoh - Shoe service;

Honours Year Runner Up: Simon Curlis – ‘Blankit’ for refugees.

The entries were judged on their design innovation, resource efficiency, ecological responsibility, design for end-of-life, green marketing and aesthetics. The winners were announced last night.

The winning designs and others are on show alongside graduate projects from RMIT’s industrial design department at Telstra Centre, Exhibition Street, Melbourne until 5 December.

Media information, images and interviews are available from:

Andrew Yee, Public Affairs, RMIT University (03) 9925 3176, 0417 592 398