The Index Project

INDEX: is a Denmark-based nonprofit organization with the purpose to promote designs aimed at the improvement of the life of people worldwide, both in developed and developing countries.

It was established in 2002 under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Denmark. It is supported by the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority, Den Obelske Familiefond and Konsul George Jorck og Hustru Emma Jorck’s Fond.

INDEX: was initially proposed by designer Johan Adam Lindeballe and Danish Permanent Secretary Jørgen Rosted as a world design event in order to promote Denmark, to attract tourism and investments. However soon it acquired a global perspective and its mission has become expressed in its motto: "Design to Improve Life".

Design to Improve Life is promoted my means of the design award (INDEX: Award), a world-touring exhibition, a summer camp, conferences, and publications.

INDEX: Award

The biennial INDEX: Award was initiated in 2005. Financed by the state of Denmark, with a total prize sum of 500,000 euros, it became world's largest monetary award in the area of design. Award presentation has becoma a major even, with an exhibition fo the finalists sited in public squares of hosting cities with free admission.

Projects from all over the world are nominated for the award, to be judged by an international jury. The award is given out in five categories – Body, Home, Work, Play and Community.

Award winners

2009

In 2009, there were over 700 nominations from 54 countries.

• Design to Improve Life - e-Types (Medilabel Safety System)

2007

• Body Award: Sebastien Dubois for his "Mobility for Each One", an energy-return prosthetic foot that can been produced for $8 in a local workshop versus the standard $1,300 to $4,000.
• Home Award: Alberto Meda and Francisco Gomez Paz for their "Solar Bottle", a low cost water purification bottle.
• Work Award: Philip Greer, Lisa Stroux, Graeme Davies and Chris Huntley for the "Tongue Sucker", a simple device, easy to use in an emergency to draw to tongue of an unconscious person, make the airway unobstructed and hence assist CPR in time-critical situations.
• Play Award: Elon Musk, Martin Eberhard and Barney Hatt for the "Tesla Roadster" a 100% electrical powered sports car with zero emissions and power cost approximately 2 cents per mile.
• Community Award: Rebecca Allen, Christopher Blizzard, V. Michael Bove, Yves Behar, Walter Bender, Michail Bletsas, Mark Foster, Jacques Gagne, Mary Lou Jepson, Nicholas Negroponte and Lisa Strausfeld for the affordable XO Laptop.
• People's Choice Award: Han Pham for "Antivirus", which is a cap to be placed onto a soda can to be used asfor safe disposal of hypodermic needles in low income countries, where these needles are commonly found in trash and thus increase the rates of transmission of diseases and needle injuries.

2005

The winners were chosen from 538 nominees representing 43 countries

Key people

• Johan Adam Lindeballe, initiator
• Jørgen Rosted, initiator
• Kigge Hvid, founding CEO