The grand final of this year's Electrolux Design Lab 2011 competition is fast approaching. The field has been reduced to the last eight solutions for compact living and video presentations of the concept designs produced. The young designers will get their chance to pitch for victory in front of the judges on September 7 in London, but before that Electrolux has opened up the ballot box for the People's Choice - a chance to reward your favorite design with some of the limelight. Read on for a look at those video presentations...
This year's finalists will present their design to the Design Lab's panel of judges at the Business Design Centre, London on September 7. Entries will be judged on intuitive design, innovation and consumer insight. The winner will receive EUR5,000 (US$7,233) and get to spend six months as a paid intern at one of the company's global design centers. Runners up will walk away with EUR3,000 (US$4,340) and EUR2,000 (US$2,893) for second and third place respectively. One of the final eight will also be crowned the public's favorite with the People's Choice Award.
To help you get a feel for who is most deserving of the latter accolade, have a look at the following concept presentation videos. In no particular order of preference, we start with a bounce and a roll, and a smoothie mixer first featured in our semi-finalist coverage in June - Roseanne de Bruin's Smoobo Blender.
Looks like a great way to get kids to drink more fresh fruit juice. If you need something to clean up the room after a bounce and blend session, Gyu Ha Choi's Robo Tap will follow your lead.
A few ways to heat food have made it through to the final eight - such as Adam Miklosi's Sous-vide Cell Cooker.
Then there's the Mobile Induction Heat Plate from Tommi Moilanen.
Enzo Kocak's Ribbon can double as both a portable heater and cooler.
Giving new life to TV dinners, Matthew Schwartz has designed the Onda portable microwave oven.
Bagel lovers the world over will no doubt be voting for the Salvé Bagel Toaster from Kent Madden.
If you find yourself salivating uncontrollably at the thought of rotating bagels being cooked while they turn, Adrian Mankovecký's Spot Cleaner could help.
So there you have it. If you'd like to vote for your People's Choice champion, head over to the poll page on Facebook before 14:00 CET, September 7. We'll bring you news of the winners shortly after.
