The idea is impressive and it also convinced the panel of internationally renowned experts, who awarded the idea first prize in this year’s competition. “As with many of the projects that were submitted, this concept is a successful combination of creativity and state-of-the-art technology,” says Dr. Joachim Wolff, a member of the Executive Committee of Bayer MaterialScience. “The participants combined the innovative materials and know-how of our company with visions of the future in a way that we found astonishing.” In addition to the core idea and the intelligent use of materials, the panel also assessed the level of innovation, functionality and quality of the entries. “We want to bring visions to life and convert them into products to cover the requirements of the future,” explains Bernd Steinhilber, Head of Functional Films at Bayer MaterialScience and a member of the judging panel. “The VisionWorks Award helps us to identify new trends and develop our products for applications of the future.”

The participants were also delighted with the results of the competition and the opportunities it provided: “The VisionWorks Award provides students and companies with a platform for sharing creative ideas and know-how,” says Manuel Dreesmann. “We benefit from the collaboration with cooperation partners and learn from their experiences in the market, and in return provide fresh ideas on logistics topics of the future.”

Philipp Hermes from Folkwang University in Essen shares this view. His “Urban Mole” model, an underground transportation unit that moves independently through existing sewer system networks, was awarded second place. As an industrial design student, he is used to developing ideas that can immediately be put into practice using existing technologies. The award gives him the chance to really push design boundaries. “The kick-off meeting and workshops in particular provide numerous opportunities to exchange information with other participants and experts in plastics research and logistics,” says Philipp Hermes.

Based on the information they received, the participants first outlined their ideas for new application concepts and then put them into practice as prototypes. A total of 42 models made it into the final, where they were evaluated by the experts.

About the VisionWorks Award
The competition, which was held for the first time in 2007, is geared towards students from selected European design colleges and is unique in the company history of Bayer MaterialScience. The aim of the event is to promote talented young designers and to encourage them to develop new applications based on the company’s innovative materials. The VisionWorks Award 2009 was initiated by Bayer MaterialScience in cooperation with Airbus, DHL and Hettich under the title “CargoPacks 2020” and is being organized with support from the future_bizz network of companies, which are jointly developing business ideas for future habitation, living and working, and the Frackenpohl-Poulheim design agency.

This year, the students were called on to develop solutions for the logistics requirements of the future under the slogan “CargoPacks 2020”. The theme is taken from a series of case studies developed by the Creative Center of Bayer MaterialScience. They describe everyday situations relating to purchasing, transportation, dispatch and communication in the year 2020 and were presented to the participants during the kick-off meeting.


Participating universities 2009
- University of the Arts Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Folkwang University in Essen, Essen, Germany
- Zurich University of the Arts, Zürich, Switzerland
- Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Kiel, Germany
- Università Iuav di Venezia, Venice, Italy

Members of the judging panel 2009
- Jeroen Verbrugge, Director of “Flex – the Innovation Lab”, Delft
- Jürgen Weidemann, Technology & Innovation Management, Deutsche Post AG, Bonn
- Bernd Steinhilber, Head of Functional Films at Bayer MaterialScience AG
- Gerrit Terstiege, Editor-in-Chief of “form – The Making of Design”, Basel
- Ulrike Niesmann, EPEA Umweltforschung GmbH, Hamburg
- Jan Nieberle, Manager Product Design Industrial Design, Hamburg
- Britta Pukall, Managing Partner Milani d&c, Zürich (Chairwoman)
- Ralf Müterthies, Director of Program Management – Division Kitchen & Bath, Hettich, Kirchlengern

Winners 2009
- 1st place (EUR 5,000): “Green” by Manuel Dreesmann, University of the Arts Bremen
- 2nd place (EUR 3,000): “Urban Mole” by Philipp Hermes, Folkwang University in Essen
- 3rd place (EUR 1,000): “Bacs” by Mareike Frensemeier, University of the Arts Bremen, and “Water Ahead” by Matthias Rauch, Folkwang University in Essen

Cooperation partners 2009
 - Airbus Deutschland GmbH, Hamburg
 - Deutsche Post DHL, Bonn
 - Hettich – Technik für Möbel, Kirchlengern


About Bayer MaterialScience:
With 2008 sales of EUR 9.7 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, and sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2008, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 15,100 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.


Further information as well as photos for download are available at www.press.bayerbms.com. Details of this year’s VisionWorks Award “CargoPacks 2020” can be found at www.visionworksaward.com.