Welcome to Formzoo News. Here we share our ideas, opinions and comments on local and international design, innovation and product development. Stay switched on by checking with us regularly or subscribe to stay in touch with Formzoo and the industrial design scene.

Core77 is calling all design practitioners, educators, students, researchers and writers to enter the Core77 2012 Design Awards. Designers are encouraged to submit theirbest work from 2011 into the most inclusive and celebratory design awards program of the digital age: The Core77 2012 Design Awards

More innovation in sports equipment as Dual Snowboards delivers a unique twist to the world of snowboarding by cutting the traditional snowboard in half along the waist, giving you a board for each foot writes Chris Weiss. With this simple move that effectively sees a lunch-tray-like board strapped to each foot, the company says riders get more freedom to move and conceptualize new tricks like ninja-like flip-n-kicks, but they’ll also be able to pull off Gore-Tex-ripping splits, nut-demolishing pole wraps and devastating banana-peel falls. Proceed with care.

DesignMarch 2012 will take place from March 22-25, 2012 in Reykjavik. First held in 2009, DesignMarch is Iceland’s most important annual design event. Featuring Iceland´s internationally renowned veterans in the field as well as fledgling upcoming designers, the program of DesignMarch includes a wide range of exciting events, exhibitions and lectures. DesignMarch brings the awakening of spring and the growth in Icelandic design. The festival presents design playing a fundamental role in these times of great change.

Entries are now open for Launch Pad 2012.

Launch Pad is an important design initiative, promoting the support and development of Australian product design through a unique, interactive program of events.   The Launch Pad program provides the local and international design community with a vital avenue to nurture and celebrate original, authentic and innovative emerging Australian design, thus supporting and cultivating the careers of those product designers involved.   The depth and breadth of Launch Pad goes far beyond its annual exhibition of prototypes. The expertly curated Launch Pad program of events also promotes real relationships between people, ideas and products in design.   The Launch Pad program encompasses four major components:

- An annual competition –enter now

- An exhibition of finalist prototypes, held as part of Saturday in Design – check out images of past exhibitions

- Mentoring sessions – Mentoring sessions offer valuable insights into a range of essential topics, from how to develop your creative business, to marketing your brand and products, finding retailers, connecting with manufacturers and more.

- Networking events – The Launch Pad program culminates in an evening function of networking with key industry figures, providing the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of standout finalists.

The Design Club is kicking off again for 2012. This month have the opportunity to hear from and meet registered architect and the Manager of the Asia Pacific Design Library at State Library of Queensland, Christian Duell.

In his current role, Christian explores opportunities to connect and engage industry, academia and the public in the generation of new ideas and content centred on design in the Asia Pacific.

Christian’s architectural achievements include a Queensland State Architecture Award for his involvement in the Hatton Vale Cathedral project, a Queensland Tourism Award for the Mount Isa Buchanan Park project and the Queensland Board of Architects prize.

Christian is passionate about the opportunities that arise through travel, collaboration, chance encounters and new relationships formed across a range of creative fields. He continues to explore these opportunities through design, music, art and teaching.

Sprout is a community for Industrial Design. Created by QUT students, Sprout is the social arm of the ID industry. Sprout aims to bring the ID community together through regular social events like the Design Club, golf days, social fun competitions, and other ID exhibitions. The Sprout Design Club is a network for Industrial Designers and creative minds. The Design Club meets this coming month on Thursday, February 9, 6pm at the Limes Hotel, 142 Constance St, Fortitude Valley.

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) announced that the City of Cape Town has been designated the World Design Capital (WDC) 2014. The designated city was revealed on the closing day of the International Design Alliance Congress in Taipei. Cape Town is the fourth city to hold this biennial appointment and marks the first for the African continent.

Awarded to cities based on their commitment to use design as an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development, the WDC has become more than just a project or a programme. Today, it is a global movement and serves to acknowledge that design can, and does, impact the quality of human life.