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September 17, 2008
Alcoa launches ALUMINIUM INNOVATES AT HOME design competition
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Montréal, September 17, 2008 – Alcoa Canada announces the launch of ALUMINIUM INNOVATES AT HOME, a design competition being organized in cooperation with the Association of Industrial Designers of Québec (ADIQ) and the Québec Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade (MDEIE). Industrial designers from across Québec are invited to develop a functional item made primarily of aluminum and intended for domestic use in the entry area of a house.
Alcoa will award an amount of $5000 to each of the five finalists selected to enable them to complete and present concept design sketches. The competition winner will receive a grand prize valued at $25 000 and enjoy access to the services of Alcoa Innovation* to pursue work on the winning design and help bring it to market.
The official competition launch took place at Darling Foundry in Montréal on September 16th at an evening cocktail organized by Alcoa for competition partners and some 100 guests from Québec’s industrial design community.
During the event, François Racine, Manager, Business Development with Alcoa Canada, underscored the importance of the competition for developing Québec talent and innovative new uses for aluminum in a spirit of sustainable development. “Light, multi-purpose and readily recyclable any number of times, aluminum is a material of choice which has enjoyed a place in the home for many years now.”
Mario Gagnon, President of the Association of Industrial Designers of Québec appealed to professional industrial designers across the province to rise to this inspirational challenge and put both their talent and their creativity to work.
“The Government of Québec is proud to support this competition which underlines the importance of design as an essential component of the innovation process. This initiative is also in perfect keeping with the design and innovation thrust of Québec’s Research and Innovation Strategy. By focusing on industrial design, companies add value to their products, boost their competitiveness in the marketplace and enhance their brand image,” pointed up Raymond Bachand, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade.
Aluminum as a people-friendly material
The entry area of any house is the first place to strike the eyes of occupants and visitors alike. Area layout and furnishings are therefore of the utmost importance.
Designers who elect to take part in the ALUMINIUM INNOVATES AT HOME competition will be required to propose an item made primarily of aluminum which is functional, innovative and intended for use in the entry area of a house: entry hall, portico, courtyard or any other competition-relevant space. Concepts presented must be aesthetically pleasing, easy to build and ingenious from the standpoint of functionality. They must also incorporate the principles of ecodesign and have demonstrated market potential.
Designers have until December 1st to submit Stage 1 entry documents. The competition panel of judges will be chaired by Maurice Cloutier, Director, School of Design at UQAM, and include the following members: Carole Paré, Senior Manager, Marketing–Products, Strategies and Services with Rona; Valérie Saint-Laurent, member of the Board of Directors of ADIQ and industrial designer with Éclairage Quattro; Gilles Dufour, Manager, Technology and Business Development with Alcoa Canada; and, François Racine, Manager, Business Development with Alcoa Canada.
The names of the five finalists and their concepts will be unveiled sometime in February 2009. The grand prize winner will be announced at the 2009 Montréal International Interior Design Show (SIDIM) in the company of competition runners-up. Concepts presented by all finalists, including the grand prize winner, will be exhibited at SIDIM 2009, the object being to provide the general public with the opportunity to discover the ingenuity and creativity of local Québec designers.
Professional industrial designers interested in obtaining further competition details are asked to log on to one or other of the following websites: Alcoa (www.alcoa.com/canada/fr/home.asp), ADIQ (www.adiq.ca ) or MDEIE (www.mdeie.gouv.qc.ca/design )
About Alcoa
In Québec, Alcoa Canada Primary Metals (ACPM) is comprised of the Baie-Comeau, Bécancour and Deschambault smelters, as well as the Bécancour Rod Plant. These four plants have an annual production capacity of over one million metric tons of ingots, castings, billets and aluminum rods. ACPM employs over 3,300 people and its activities generate over $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs annually in the province.
Alcoa is a major, fully integrated economic and social partner in the communities where it is present. Given its social commitment and strong sense of belonging to these communities, Alcoa wishes to contribute, in a sustainability perspective, to their quality as communities. Further information is available at www.alcoa.com/canada/en/home.asp and www.aluminumispeople.com.
Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, through its growing position in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The Company has 97,000 employees in 34 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
*Alcoa Innovation is a non-profit organization set up by Alcoa Canada in cooperation with Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ) and Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA). The mission of the partnership is to support Québec-based SMEs by:
- Favouring the development of innovative products which entail the processing of aluminum;
- Promoting the use of aluminum in applications which further sustainable development; and
- Supporting research and development initiatives designed to enhance greater public access to and knowledge of aluminum products and the uses of aluminum.
Information:
Alcoa Canada:
Lysane Martel
Manager, Communications
Alcoa Canada
T 514 906-2537
lysane.martel@alcoa.com
ADIQ:
Noémi Marquis
Association of Industrial Designers of Québec
T 514 287-6531
info@adiq.ca
MDEIE:
Denis Audibert
Coordinator, Industrial Design
Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade
T 418 691-5698 extension 4890
Denis.Audibert@mdeie.gouv.qc.ca
About the competition:
Kilicom Public Relations
T 514 845-8222
Marie-Josée Gauvin ext. 222
mjgauvin@kilicom.com
Stéphanie Quirion ext. 223
squirion@kilicom.com
Sophie Sabourin, ext. 221
ssabourin@kilicom.com
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