POC was recognized for excellence in design with the Gold Award for the Skull Comp Helmet in the 2007 Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany. As part of the opening ceremony of the Ambiente - International Frankfurt Fair on 9 February 2007, the German Design Council / Rat für Formgebung presented the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. In 2007 more than 900 innovative products from the fields of industrial and product design as well as exhibition and communication design were nominated for this award, Germany's highest official Design Award. Of these, 25 were selected for either the Gold or Silver Award. POC was awarded Gold for the Skull Comp: "The name of this product says it all. The word 'Skull' reminds one that our brains are contained in something which resembles a big egg shell. The POC helmet is a serious piece of equipment for a serious task. Protecting our brains. POC has conceived and produced a protective masterpiece. Technology as functional art. The helmet is so light that one hardly notices that one is wearing it. Ski helmets will never be the same again" says James Irvin on the panel of judges. "Technical innovation and good Design - these are the decisive factors in lifting products and communication services out of the ordinary run and increasing their market chances." This is how Economics Minister, Michael Glos, characterizes the purpose of a prize which is sponsored by his ministry to foster economic growth. "Good Design contributes to acceptability among customers, makes for high-quality products, helps businesses achieve better prices and conveys the image of the company." On his behalf, the German Design Council, Germany's centre for excellence in Design, announces 25 Gold and Silver Awards every year to companies and Designers whose achievements distinguish themselves in the market environment by high levels of Design quality, serviceability, ecological value and innovation. Participation is restricted exclusively to products and communications services which have already been awarded a national or international prize for their Design in the last five years. Companies cannot enter for the award; instead they are nominated for the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany by the Federal Economics Minister or the Economics Ministers or Senators at state level. No other Design Award sets its entrants such a strict criterion. Because of this the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany is called the "Prize of Prizes" by many opinion leaders in the world of design. The panel of judges Prof. Tanja Diezmann, Anhalt University (Applied Sciences), Dept. of Design, Dessau and pReview, Berlin Barbara Friedrich, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Architektur & Wohnen, Hamburg Nicolette Naumann, Vice-President, Consumer Goods Fairs, Messe Frankfurt GmbH Richard Binder, Design and Communication, Berlin Konstantin Grcic, Designer, Munich James Irvine, Designer, Milan/London Herbert H. Schultes, Designer, Fürstenfeldbruck (Chairman) Robert Thiemann, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine FRAME, Amsterdam Further information: Rat für Formgebung/German Design Council Kommunikation Stephan Ott Dependance/Messegelände Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt Tel. ++49 (0)69 74 74 86-0 Fax ++49 (0)69 74 74 86-19 www.designpreis.de, ott@german-design-council.de