Design that takes a stand – the iF design awards 2014 reward the daring... The Zed10 WINS!!!!!

When the BlackBerry Z10 was first announced there was plenty discussion surrounding the design of the device. In our Z10 review, we got to speak with BlackBerry's Senior Industrial Designer Joseph Hofer about the thinking that went into the BlackBerry Z10's design. At the time, he noted the primary design goal for the BlackBerry Z10 was to achieve a simple, understated, timeless elegance. 

Since then, the device has gone on to win the Red Dot Award for Product Design 2013 and now it has won the right to take home the 2014 iF Product Design Award as well. In January, 49 international design experts assessed 4,615 products, communication designs and packaging entered by participants from 55 countries. 

4.615 entries vied for the coveted iF design awards, which were awarded for the 61st time this year. The successful internationalisation continued to gain ground in 2014: the jury of 49 experts evaluated designs from 55 countries in total, once again a considerable increase over the previous year. The iF design awards 2014 were awarded in the three competitions iF product design award 2014, iF communication design award 2014 and iF packaging design award 2014. 75 entries stood above the strong international competition and received an iF gold award for their extraordinary design achievement. The award ceremony will take place at the BMW Welt in Munich on 28 February 2014.

BlackBerry Named One of World's Top 100 Most Innovative Organizations of 2013

BlackBerry got some rare positive recognition. Thomson Reuters recognized the smartphone pioneer as one of the world's top 100 most innovative organizations of 2013.

It is BlackBerry's first appearance on the list. BlackBerry is the only Canadian company on the third-annual list, next to 45 US companies. According to Thomson Reuters, BlackBerry's innovation was "driven by a 38 percent surge in patent filings between 2010 and 2011, and 17 percent growth in patent filings between 2011 and 2012."

"Now in its third year, the Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovators study provides further evidence that innovative organizations—those that secure global patent protection for their intellectual property, continue to push the envelope with new technologies and invest more in R&D—are those that outperform the S&P 500 on virtually every measure of business success," noted David Brown, managing director, Thomson Reuters IP Solutions.

"These are the companies that are driving growth, creating jobs and pioneering new products and services; we are honored to recognize their efforts through this annual program," he added.

The 100 organizations in the 2013 study outperformed the S&P 500 for the third consecutive year. This year's winners also outspent the S&P 500 by 8.8 percent on R&D; collectively they invested $223 billion in their research and development efforts.

Africa Entrepreneur Awards 2011 Launched

The 2011 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship has
officially opened for entries on May 31st, 2011 and
conclude with an expanded Gala Awards event in
conjunction with a high-profile conference on
entrepreneurship -CONVERGENCE: AFRICA. This
year we have expanded the Africa Awards from
the humble beginnings of five countries
competing in 2007 now to include every country
in Africa.

Your company needs to have been running for at least two years, have plus 10 employees and an income revenue of not more than $15 million. Its a good way of marketing ones company and financing the firm too.

Nominate your company or any other of choice! I wish all companies the best!