The "EDAG Light Car" concept vehicle has been nominated by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Transportation, Urban and Regional Development for the German Design Award 2011 (category: "Product Design"), the country's highest ranking, most prestigious design award.

EDAG Styling Team, from left to right: Alexander Zeth, Thomas Reinhold, Johannes Barckmann (Head of EDAG Design Studio), Georg Ruhrmann and Thomas Hasenauer

The nomination for this international award is a special accolade for the EDAG Design Studio. "We are honoured and delighted to have been nominated. The "Light Car" represents the design philosophy on which the design of our products is based. This applies not only to the design of cars, but also to products from all fields of industrial manufacturing, for instance medical equipment or wind turbines. The design always follows the principles of sustainability and reduction, and is strongly geared to the Bauhaus philosophy," is how Johannes Barckmann, Head of the EDAG Design Studio, describes the way in which his team works. With this nomination, the EDAG Design Studio joins the ranks of top designers. In 2010, the German Design Award for the "Product Design Gold" category went to Audi AG for the Audi A5 coupé.

With the "EDAG Light Car", a special body concept was developed for the new type of electric vehicles, using the latest in lightweight materials, semi-finished products and joining concepts. In addition, with its innovative light concept, the "Light Car" is one of the first vehicles to utilise (O)LED technology as an individually adaptable design and communication element in the vehicle's exterior.

The ultimate award - the German Design Award

Since 2006, the award has been called the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany, and is given for outstanding achievements in the fields of product and communication design, and to a personality in the design sector.

Appointed by the Federal Minister of Economics, the independent jury is composed of renowned experts from both disciplines. The high standards set for the participants makes this the highest ranking official German award in the field of design. Companies are not allowed to enter themselves, but must be nominated by the ministries of economy of the federal states, or by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
However, before it can be entered, a company must already have won a national or international prize; in the case of the EDAG Light Car, this was the "designplus" design award for the implementation of new materials in automobile construction.

The aim of the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany is to represent the pinnacle of design development and to create a complex picture of daily life and its future scenatios. The winners will be announced in September 2010, and invited to the Design Award presentation in Frankfurt on 11th February, 2011.