On 5 November 2024, the industrial designed. design prize was awarded for the first time at the Offenbach University of Art and Design in Isenburg Castle. The design prize recognizes young talent and promotes visionary product developments that combine industry, technology, science, innovation and design.
The design prize was awarded by the City of Offenbach in cooperation with the Economic Development Agency and the Industrial Design department headed by Prof Frank Zebner at the Offenbach University of Art and Design with whom BARTEC collaborates in the development of new product designs for explosion protection.
The prize, worth a total of €6,000, was awarded to outstanding projects that particularly impressed the jury out of eight nominated designs. First place went to Hanna Ossenbrink's Apus project, second to Niklas Karl for his telescope design Pavo.
We are very proud that the third place and €1,000 went to Erika Martínez Duque's Compacto project, an explosion-proof enclosure designed for safe use in industrial environments. Through an innovative choice of materials and a functional design, Compacto presents a new product line that ensures the safety and protection of electrical components in hazardous environments.
The design is characterized by the distinctive shape of the superellipse - a natural curvature that gives the product an unmistakable identity. The compact shape enables a harmonious combination of aesthetics and functionality. A stable endoskeleton ensures maximum safety and stability by utilizing Voronoi structures that effectively absorb pressure waves. The use of advanced materials such as silicon carbide sets new standards to meet future requirements in various industries.
‘’The challenge was to give the complex theme a new, innovative design quality using simple forms and natural principles. This was achieved through thorough research, targeted support and an intensive examination of the relationship between form and function,‘’ explains Erika Martínez Duque.
We congratulate to all the inspiring winners!
Find more information here.