Hasta La Ideas

The finalists for the Dutch Design Awards have been announced. This year, for the first time, the public can vote on their favourite from the 45 pieces chosen.

We’ve picked out a selection from the Communications categories for this post, including the set of stamps above created by photographers Niels Schumm and Anuschka Blommers with Experimental Jetset.

Roger Wieland‘s lovely film for Moleskine (one of a series)

This poster from Hansje van Halem for Schrank8, the gallery that he has been running in his living room for the past year

Michiel Schuurman‘s posters for the Matter of Monument, “an exhibition about the relationship of an international city such as Amsterdam and the preserving of her (architectural) history”.

Floor Wesseling‘s Blood In Blood Out project which “to see what happens when you combine shirts of rival soccer teams into one new shirt. These combinations tell tales about historic events in Europe and show relationships between countries, parties, cultures and brotherhood. Combining cultural symbols and elements refers to the search for an own identity and national pride as well.” Shown here is the Brazil shirt mixed with that of its ex-colonial overlord Portugal.

Lernert & Sander’s music video for Elektrotechnique by De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig featuring “a series of domestic sex machines”.

LBi‘s website for the Anne Frank House

And Christian Borstlap‘s video for Shawn Lee

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In previous years, the jury preselected a shortlist six finalists for the public award, now visitors to the DDA website can choose their favourite from all 45 finalists. Voting can be done via the Facebook ‘like’ button or via a ballot paper and closes on October 29.

Introducing, albeit a limited amount of, public voting to a creative awards is an interesting step. Certainly it’s something that has been suggested for the likes of D&AD in order to widen public engagement and encourage transparency as well as override any perception of jury members favouring the work of some over others. The result will be announced on October 30