Designer Francesco Sommacal has been awarded the Red Dot: luminary design award for his sports equipment that replicates the sensation of snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding.
The 360 consists of two wheels connected by a flexible shaft. The user puts their feet inside the wheels and controls the direction of travel using body movements, as with board sports. The distance between wheels and slant can be adjusted to fit.
The following text is from Francesco Sommacal:
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Francesco Sommacal wins the red dot: luminary design award in Singapore
Francesco Sommacal, a graduate of the Faculty of Design and Art at the Free University of Bozen - Bolzano, received the prestigious red dot: luminary design award in Singapore on 28th November. He submitted his “360” project in the design concept category.
The 360 replicates the sensation of snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding. Riders place their feet into the inner parts of both wheels, which puts them in a natural position to shred roads, grass or dirt hills.
The 360 is a piece of equipment that is suitable for everyone who likes sports connected with passion, freedom, energy, craziness and action. Its inspiration was found in adrenaline and action sports such as surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding.
Using the 360 is simple and intuitive. With easy body movements, the user is able to direct it and ride it on different surfaces, such as the road, grassland or earth. The 360 consists of two orbital wheels that are connected by a flexible shaft. The rider places their feet into the inner part of the wheel – a natural position for experiencing the feeling of snowboarding, surfing or skateboarding. The 360 can easily be adapted to the physical characteristics of each rider, with both the distance between the two wheels and the slant of the step being adjustable.
The 360 can be used in two ways: “free-ride” and “freestyle”. On one hand, it can be ridden downhill as it is equipped with a system to regulate speed. On the other hand, it can be used to perform tricks and figures. Imagination is the only limit!
The “360” is a re-definition of the extreme sport of skateboarding. Riding diagonal to the direction of travel over asphalt, stones or grass, the user can – like on a snowboard – steer by shifting his or her body weight. The versatility of this “summer snowboard” means that boarders everywhere can now enjoy an extra season’s fun.
Francesco Sommacal, a graduate of the Faculty of Design and Art at the Free University of Bozen - Bolzano, received the prestigious red dot: luminary design award in Singapore on 28th November. He submitted his “360” project in the design concept category.
With over 10,000 submissions from a total of 60 countries, the red dot design award ranks among the largest and most renowned design competitions in the world, and is the biggest design award in Germany. The competition was organized by the North Rhine-Westphalia Design Centre.
The red dot award is presented to works that feature outstanding design quality. The jury consists of well-known designers and design experts from around the world who rate the products according to such criteria as innovation, functionality, form and ergonomics, as well as their symbolic and emotional content.
The design concept category is open to projects that have not yet reached the production stage. Of this year’s 1,906 young designers taking part, 170 received the red dot award for outstanding design quality, while another 21 received the red dot: best of the best distinction for highest design quality.
These winners are automatically nominated for the competition’s premium award – the red dot: luminary. This year, the “360” project from Francesco Sommacal won the unanimous approval of the jury.