The Chamber Prize for Design Management is the only award in Spain that gives recognition to the role of design management in improving management strategy, products and services, and customer relations.
The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce created this award in 1999 - initially as a biennial honorary prize - on the initiative of BCD Barcelona Design Centre. Its objective is to honour companies with outstanding overall design management that has led to an improvement in their business strategy, in their products or services and in their customer relations, and optimised the resources they have for differentiating and positioning themselves in the market, all of which adds up to increased competitiveness.
All industrial or service companies that meet the requirements for electing the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce are eligible to compete for this award, with the exception of companies whose main activity is to provide design services.
The factors to be taken into account by the jury are the following: design management in the company including the company's design strategy; the design programme; the hiring of design services; the direction, management and control of design projects; all the design departments in the company; the company's economic results and investment in design; any objectives achieved by the company in which design has played a significant part; and the degree of innovation through design.
The prize consists of 6,000 euros in prize money by way of a Chamber Grant – to be exchanged for services and actions from the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce in the fields of training, innovation and worldwide exposure – which will be awarded to the winning company together with a plaque and a diploma of recognition.
Over the years, the Chamber Prize has recognised the work of companies like Roca (1999), Mobles 114 Barcelona (2001), Industrias Cosmic (2003), nanimarquina (2005), Figueras International Seating (2007), Ficosa International and MUNICH (2009) and Lékué (2010).
2011 edition
Escofet 1886, a Catalonian industrial company known for its strategic commitment to the design and innovation, has been awarded with the only Spanish prize that acknowledges the excellence in design management for its strategic implementation of design. The Cambra Design Management Prize will be delivered on October 19 by Miquel Valls, president of both entities, during the Barcelona Design Week 2011.
