This year’s Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition is open for submissions. The competition, sponsored by Covestro, is intended for university undergraduates in the UK and Ireland who are interested in working with plastics. The theme for the 2023 edition of the competition is the kitchen or bathroom.
To enter the contest, students must submit a design for a functional item made primarily from plastics. The design must be an original concept or offer a significant improvement on an existing product.
Entries close 26 March, after which a panel of industry judges will scrutinise the entries and choose six finalists. On 26 May, all six finalists will have the opportunity to present their products at an all-day session in London. The final result will be announced at a ceremony in London on 7 July.
According to DIP chairman Martin Sixsmith there is a great deal of scope to come up with something which could help anyone from children to the elderly or disabled, as well as dealing with issues such as accessibility or the lack of space in either the kitchen or the bathroom.
“The judges will also be looking very closely at how the designs maximise lifespan and sustainability. We’re very much looking forward to seeing what materialises from this brief."
The Design Innovation in Plastics competition was established in 1985 and is the longest running plastics competition of its kind in Europe. It is supported by the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, the Worshipful Company of Horners, and sponsored by leading design and plastics organisations. This year once again, Covestro is the headline industry sponsor.