Bolwell has Edge at Design Awards

Bolwell’s innovative fibreglass caravan launched late last year, has been pipped by an interactive playground for the major prize at the 2011 Australian International Design Awards.

The futuristic, two-berth Bolwell RV, which combines aerospace technology with funky styling and advanced aerodynamics, was in the running for Australia’s top design award, together with 126 other finalists in this year’s competition.

However, the judges were most impressed by the ICON playground, designed by Denmark-based Kompan, which "brings interactive gaming technology together with outdoor play equipment to provide an engaging, challenging and fun play area promoting a healthy, active lifestyle".

The ICON playground was also judged best in the Sport and Leisure category, which included eight other finalists including the Bolwell caravan, a finless surfboard, and all-in-one backpack bed.

Of the finalists, 47 products were awarded a Design Award in recognition of design and innovation excellence. The remaining 80 finalists, including the Melbourne-built Bolwell Edge, were recognised as Good Design.

Other cleverly conceived, camping-related products recognised at the Awards, included the Backpack Bed which received a Design Award and the bioethanol-powered EcoSmart Fire Stix, described as a "contemporary twist on the traditional campfire", awarded a Good Design.

Bolwell’s Good Design gong follows another award recently given to the fledgling RV builder, when the Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia (SAE) awarded the Bolwell van a Certificate of Commendation at its annual awards presentation night.

It was the fourth highest award presented by the SAE on the night, with Vaughan Bolwell, who was also the lead designer on the Australian Institute of Sport-RMIT SupaRoo track bicycle, which won gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, on hand to accept the award.