Winner of Brit Insurance Design Award 2008 announced

A design to aid children's education in developing countries has been announced as winner of the first ever Brit Insurance Design Award 2008.
March 19, 2008


Yves Béhar's One Laptop Per Child has triumphed in a shortlist of 100 designs to become the most pioneering and progressive international design from the last twelve months. James Dyson presented the winning designer with the overall winner's award at the prestigious Brit Insurance Design Awards at the Design Museum hosted by Wayne Hemingway last night.


The panel of expert judges comprising Alison Moloney, Rolf Fehlbaum, Lars Müller, Antonio Citterio and Daniel Weil chose Béhar's design as overall winner from the seven major category winners announced last week, and commented: "One Laptop per Child is a fantastic project that is a feat beyond the design itself: a laptop that addresses the educational and technical needs in developing countries, the aspirations for low-cost manufacture and with an ergonomic, robust and fun design that allows children to enhance their means of learning and communication."

Béhar designed the child-size laptop to bring children learning, information and communication where education is needed most. This was part of a non-profit programme created by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.

The inexpensive and energy-efficient computer reduces energy use by 90 percent and can be charged by handcranked power, making it ideal for use in rural villages. It features wi-fi antenna 'rabbit ears' and energy-efficient LCD, a digital writing tablet and integrated video camera and networking capabilities allow children to connect to each other, their school, their teacher and the web. Every design aspect of the machine serves a dual purpose to achieve a sense of economy and efficiency.

Dane Douetil, Chief Executive of Brit Insurance commented: "We have been thrilled by the overwhelming and positive response to the inaugural Brit Insurance Design Awards, which have shown how diverse and thought-provoking good design can be. One Lap Top per Child is a groundbreaking concept and a deserving winner. We extend our warmest congratulations to Yves Béhar, OLPC and Quanta Computer Inc and their teams."

Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum said: "This is a striking demonstration that proves design to a ruthless budget can achieve great results. The One Laptop per Child is a pioneering design and we congratulate Yves Béhar on winning the first Brit Insurance Design Award."

The winning designs can be seen alongside the rest of the 100-strong shortlist at the first ever Brit Insurance Designs of the Year exhibition on display at the Design Museum until April 27.

-Ends-

Enquiries
Mark Jones, Brit Insurance Holdings PLC
020 7984 8500

Juliet Tilley, Haggie Financial
020 7417 8989

Notes to Editors

Brit Insurance's operations comprise three strategic business units: Brit Global Markets, Brit Reinsurance and Brit UK. All three have access to the two regulatory vehicles through which Brit Insurance underwrites: Brit Insurance Limited which is a UK FSA regulated insurance company and Lloyd's syndicate 2987 which is managed by Brit Syndicates Limited. Brit Insurance has UK underwriting offices in London, Reading, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Darlington, Ilford and Manchester.
www.britinsurance.com

The Brit Insurance Designs of the Year Exhibition

Venue: The Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD
Dates: 13th February 2008 - 27th April 2008
Opening times: 10.00 - 17.45
Advance booking: 020 7940 8783
Public information: 0870 833 9955
www.designmuseum.org

Brit Insurance Design Awards
The shortlist was divided in to seven categories. Category winners were:

Architecture
National Stadium: the Main Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China Architect: Herzog & de Meuron, Client: National Stadium Co. Ltd Beijing, China
Fashion
Airborne Autumn/Winter 07, Design by Hussein Chalayan
Furniture
100 Chairs in 100 Days, Design and manufacture by Martino Gamper
Graphics
Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, Creative director Paul Buckley and co art director Helen Yentus, Design by various artists for Penguin Group USA
Interactive
Burble London, Design by Haque Design + Research Ltd, with Seth Garlock and Rolf Pixley
Product
One Laptop Per Child - Design by Yves Béhar of Fuseproject, for OLPC & Quanta Computer Inc.
Transport
Mex-x, Wheelchair for children by Meyra- Ortopedia Vertriebsgesellschaft
 
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