Applications for Outstanding Outdoor 2020 accepted digitally
Applications for ISPO’s Outstanding Outdoor awards — which recognise products in the outdoor industry — are being accepted until May 29, 2020.
Due to circumstances stemming from the covid-19 pandemic, the evaluation and awarding processes will largely be carried out digitally. Winners will receive what the event organiser described as an “extensive high-reach communication package”.
To encourage brands to participate despite the current delay in production cycles, the selection process has been split in two stages. No physical samples are initially required for the application.
In the adapted, first-stage of the evaluation process, an international jury makes a pre-selection from the submitted products based on digitally submitted information. The panel of experts from various stakeholders in the industry considers the criteria of innovation/trend character; purpose and target group; material selection; effort and composition; and design.
If a product is selected as a finalist in this step, only then will a product sample be required for the second, final jury meeting. In addition to criteria already reviewed, the products will then be examined for functionality, quality of workmanship and other factors. At this point, sustainability is considered, for which products can gain an additional point.
"We assume that particularly creative, innovative products are created during the crisis,” said Franziska Zindl, head of awards and innovation at ISPO.
