DAME Design Awards Opens 35th Anniversary Entries

The DAME Design Awards opened entries for its 35th anniversary edition, continuing a competition that has recognised marine equipment design since 1991. The 2026 programme is intended to assess products across styling, construction, function, usability, sustainability, originality, innovation and price-to-performance.

Design beyond appearance

DAME's judging process is deliberately broader than visual styling alone, with a multidisciplinary jury examining how products perform their intended role and how successfully design decisions improve the user experience. Both completely new products and incremental improvements to established equipment concepts can be considered.

Being nominated gives equipment manufacturers exposure during Metstrade, while the overall awards programme provides a benchmark for product development across the leisure-marine supply chain. The emphasis on practical functionality is particularly relevant to superyachts, where equipment has to combine performance, reliability, serviceability and integration within limited technical spaces.

Entries close in September

Entries for the 2026 awards were opened to Metstrade exhibitors until 18 September, with accepted products required in Amsterdam ahead of the physical judging process. Winners are scheduled to be announced during the opening of Metstrade 2026 on 17 November.

The 35th anniversary edition also supports the Dutch rescue organisation KNRM through the awards' entry-fee structure. This continues DAME's practice of connecting its commercial design programme with a marine-focused charitable beneficiary.