What is the Blackwood Design Awards?

Designers, engineers, inventors, gifted amateurs and seasoned professionals alike; the search is on for brilliant designs that have the potential to change lives…

Blackwood Homes and Care is noted as being one of the most innovative housing and care providers in the country. And we know from experience the enormous difference that good design can make to a person’s independence.

2016 is set to be the biggest year yet for the Blackwood Design Awards as we put out a world-wide search for the next big designs for independent living that will help turn disability into ability and boost independent living for people who have disabilities.

We have assembled a crack team of expert judges from the fields of design, business, law, disability and accessibility campaigning, Para sports and the media to help us pick the best.

Grant Douglas won last year's competition

with his simple but brilliant design; the S'up Spoon

 For the first time ever the competition will be made up of two distinct categories. The categories and criteria for entering are as below:

The Prize packages... 

The winner of the Best New Concept will receive the coveted trophy, the prestige that comes with it, and earn the respect of Blackwood as well as our panel of expert judges.

The prize package for the winner of the Best New Concept is the biggest and most exciting to date. Thousands of pounds worth of business advice, support and prize money, as well as the coveted trophy, awaits one champion. Besides the trophy, the prize package for the Best New Concept includes the following:

• Kingdom Gas our sponsors from last year, have come on board to support the competition once again with £2,000 prize money for the winner of the Best New Concept.
• Blackwood Homes and Care will provide support with product development & business support.
• 4c Design one of Scotland’s top product design companies - who famously designed the Queen’s Baton for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games - will provide some support and guidance on design development.
• Harper MacLeod – one of Scotland’s leading business law firms has agreed to provide support to for the winning entry.

This prize package is projected to continue growing as new sponsors and supporters commit their resources to help the winner of the ‘Best New Concept’.

How to enter

The competition is now open, and to enter please fill out the form by clicking here and email it back to bespoken@blackwoodgroup.org.uk no later than Wednesday the 30^th of November 2016. You should receive an email acknowledging your submission within 3 working days.

Round 1 of shortlisting will be completed by the 9^th of December. If your entry is selected as one of the finalists, you will be asked to make a final pitch to our judging panel via Skype and answer their questions in late January 2017. This will give you the opportunity to talk about your design in greater detail.

If you are unsure about any aspects of the competition or have any questions, please contact paulr@blackwoodgroup.org.uk.