People’s Design Award.

[ryengineer]

Thinkpad has been nominated. It's still famous in the design industry that Richard Sapper is the man "who has never done a bad design" and lenovo still continues to takes his precious advice and works with few of the same team members who collaborated with him in coming up with the legendary Thinkpad design from the Bento Box in Yamato Design Center.

One can vote on his/her own discretion on any of the nominated product in the list (on the website).

The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum has created an interesting twist on their National Design Awards. They now also feature a People’s Design Award, first introduced in 2006. It lets anyone nominate and vote on a design they like. Last year the winner was the Katrina Cottage designed by Marianne Cusato for FEMA temporary disaster housing.It certainly looks more interesting than a generic mobile home.

All you have to do is register and go through a rather simple nomination process. Basically give the title of the nomination, why it is important, who designed it, and download a few photographs. So far there are over 140 nominations. You can nominate as many designs as you like, but you can only vote once. Everything from the adhesive bandage to the Seagram Building in New York City designed by Mies van der Rohe is the running. I’m proud to say that the ThinkPad has also been nominated based on it’s quality and staying power. If you want to see ThinkPad, or for that matter one of your other favorites win make certain you check it out. You must vote by 6:00PM EST October 16.

Here is the official announcement:

The People’s Design Award gives the general public an opportunity to nominate and vote for a design of their choice by logging on to www.cooperhewitt.org. Whether an everyday object, a design classic, or an architectural landmark, voters are invited to express their views on what constitutes good design. Voting begins September 17, 2007, and the winning design will be announced on October 18, 2007, at the National Design Awards gala in New York City.

David Hill

[ryengineer]

Thinkpad made it in top 5 and beat 150+ other nominees.

ThinkPad ended up in the fourth spot, beating out every other computer design nominated. It’s also noteworthy that ThinkPad topped the iPhone, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Corvette, and even the pyramids. Thanks to all the ThinkPad loyalists who voted for our product.

Richard Sapper did put some magic in these black boxes, such a deign can only come from a man who is famous to have "never done a bad design".

[dr_st]

Is it just me or are the 3 nominees that topped the Thinkpad seem not to belong anywhere close to the top 10?

[rleo25]

With all the due respects, people no longer “the voice of god” or the jury, if ever there was one are mistaken, I am not saying Thinkpad deserved the first place, but oh my godness! a pair of shoes? against all the real wonders man has produced since the neolithic? Congrats to Thinkpad on his well deserved fourth place.

[ryengineer]

Without people's voice there wouldn't be any, the shoe won because majority voted for it and thought it deserved it. Moreover for every shoe purchased Toms Shoes donates one pair of Toms to a needy child, this great goodwill purpose was good enough for big number of people to vote for them:

TOMS Shoe Drop Argentina 2006

Statistically speaking, people are more likely going to buy a shoe than a computer. A shoe is a human necessity and a computer; still not essential enough for many people in the world to buy it.

[dr_st]

Statistically speaking, people are more likely going to buy a shoe than a computer. A shoe is a human necessity and a computer; still not essential enough for many people in the world to buy it.

More people are also likely to buy a loaf of bread than an F-16. Doesn't mean that bread should win the design competition.

[GomJabbar]

Doesn't mean that bread should win the design competition.

Well, I don't know. Never hear of "the greatest thing since sliced bread"?