Grand designs

The winners of the 2024 DAME Design Awards were announced during METSTRADE's Breakfast Briefing.

23 November 2024

The TeamO Offshore 150N Hi-Lift Lifejacket & Harness has been named the overall winner of the DAME Design Awards 2024. Arjen Jansen, senior lecturer at the TU Delft School of Industrial Design Engineering, made the announcement during the METSTRADE Breakfast Briefing, attended by marine industry professionals from around the world.

The event also recognised eight category winners, nine Special Mentions, and two Environmental DAME Design Awards winners.

The Offshore 150N Hi-Lift Lifejacket features a reimagined design that shifts the buoyancy distribution for enhanced performance. Its twisted bladder redirects excess buoyancy to an inflated pillow on the user’s back, lifting the torso higher and keeping the nose and mouth well clear of the water. The wide-set front stabilises the wearer, maintaining body alignment in accordance with ISO Standards. The lifejacket also surpasses the performance of ISO 275N standards while being slimmer in its packed form, potentially increasing wearability.

The TeamO Offshore 150N Hi-Lift Lifejacket wins top honours at the 2024 DAME Design Awards.

All DAME Design Award winners for 2024 gather on stage at METSTRADE.

Arjen Jansen presented the DAME Design Awards during the METSTRADE Breakfast Briefing.

The jury praised the lifejacket’s design as a significant advancement in marine safety. “In a close-run finish, it was an excellent new development in safety that was unanimously named outright winner,” said Andre Hoek, jury chair. “A perfect reminder of how we can never stop improving product categories that have been an essential part of boating for decades.”

METSTRADE, the world’s largest trade exhibition for leisure marine equipment, materials and systems, organised the awards in partnership with ICOMIA. The event attracts a global audience, including yacht builders, naval architects, distributors and marine equipment manufacturers.

The 2024 METSTRADE exhibition ran from 19–21 November at the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam.

Jury insights on the 2024 awards

The 2024 jury highlighted a broad range of entries reflecting advancements across the leisure marine sector.

“The jury was equally pleased to see many products where designers have iteratively improved the user experience and exploited the latest technologies to meet emerging demands,” says Hoek.

“Smart design unlocks the door to a fully sustainable approach in manufacturing, recyclability, longevity, usability and serviceability.”

The jury welcomed new members this year, including sustainability consultant Amy Munro, electronics expert Ben Stein and Olaf Bouwens, a TU Delft Master’s student in Integrated Product Design. Organisers have confirmed a new student guest jury member programme will also be introduced in 2025 to incorporate fresh perspectives.

Contribution to charity

As part of its tradition, the METSTRADE organisers donated €17,100 (A$27,700) in registration fees from the DAME Design Awards to SailWise, a Dutch charity providing watersports activities for people with disabilities. The funds will support the construction of a sustainable jetty and terrace at SailWise’s Robinson Crusoe Island centre, set to open for the 2025 season.

Recognition for innovation

The awards aim to highlight the importance of end-to-end design in improving efficiency, sustainability, and user experience across marine equipment. This year’s awards received 114 entries from 28 countries, with 58 products progressing to the final round. Eight category winners were announced alongside nine Special Mentions and two Environmental Award winners.