Press Release
Subkayak D46 Racing and Leisure Touring Kayak by Tamas Fekete Wins the Golden A' Design Award in Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design
Tamas Fekete honored for sporting goods, fitness and recreation equipment design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 25, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Subkayak D46 Racing and Leisure Touring Kayak by Tamas Fekete, designed for Openend Design Ltd., has been granted the Golden A' Design Award in the Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Golden A' Design Award
The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.
Regarding Subkayak D46 Racing and Leisure Touring Kayak
The Subkayak D46 is designed for both touring and racing, with a focus on performance and aesthetics. Its visual design features an optical separation into two distinct sections, giving it a recognizable appearance. The kayak supports various customization options through the use of 3D printed components. Elements such as rudder hatch covers and flag holders can be produced to order, allowing for adjustments in form, color, or branding. This approach enables users to personalize their kayak according to individual preferences while maintaining overall functionality and design.
About Tamas Fekete
Tamás Fekete is an industrial designer and the founder and creative director of Openend Studio, a product design studio based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Over more than 13 years, he has developed physical products across sporting goods, soft goods, consumer electronics, and lighting, working with brands including Nikon, Logitech, JBL, and Lenovo. His practice covers the full development process, from concept through prototyping to manufacturing, combining material research and design semiotics to help founders and companies bring products from idea to production. His work has received multiple international design awards.
Award Record
This recognition makes Tamas Fekete a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design Award
The A' Sporting Goods Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good sports equipment designs by leading designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to sporting goods designers, fitness equipment designers, recreation equipment designers and industrial designers from all countries. Typical entries include basketballs, tennis rackets, yoga mats, running shoes, dumbbells and bicycles. The awarded sports equipment designs are published at https://desingers.org/design-category/sporting-goods
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://desingers.org/159011
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/159011
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!159011
- Laureate Profile: https://desingers.org/d/353541
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://subkayak.com/en/termek/d46/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Subkayak D46 Racing and Leisure Touring Kayak
- Function
- Racing and Leisure Touring Kayak
- Category
- Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Sports
- Colors
- Firebrick, Light Coral, Black, Sienna and Linen
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Openend Design Ltd.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Tamas Fekete
- Country
- Netherlands
- Recognition
- Golden A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #159011
Credits
- Team
- Tamás Fekete
- Image Credits
- Image Credits: Tamás Fekete
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The D46 kayak offerst a two-section design offering enhanced customization options despite being made of a single composite material. Additionally, it incorporates 3D printed components, such as a rudder hatch cover and flag holder, which can be customized according to the buyer's preferences, including logos and a choice of colors. These parts are made-to-order and provide a level of personalization for the owners to express their style while maintaining the functionality of the kayak.
- Inspiration
- The design of the D46 kayak was inspired by the complex surface and material transitions seen in racing boats and sports cars. The aim was to visually break away from the uniformity aesthetics of single-piece kayaks by using form and color to split the kayak into two distinct sections.
- Research
- Our research included surveys to understand amateur and professional kayak users' preferences in design aesthetics, customization, and cockpit ergonomics. Engaging with kayakers through both direct and online methods, we gathered insights via open-ended questions. Findings reveal a strong desire for customization options to express personal style and the need for a wider cockpit for better fit.
- Challenge
- The main challenge was translating a physical kayak's precise hydrodynamics into a digital format with millimeter accuracy, essential for competition eligibility and performance. Using 3D scanning for the complex hull surface and integrating the new design features within strict size regulations required precise A-class surface modeling. The project's success depended on a single 1:1 scale CNC-d foam prototype emphasising the need for precise CAD deliverable to achieve a hand-sculpted look.
- Realization and Technology
- Starting with 3D scanning and reverse engineering one of Subkayak's hand-built kayak for millimeter-precise hull replication to match its hydrodynamic performance. Further development included mood boards, concept sketches, renders and numerous small-scale 3D printed draft prototypes before making the final CAD file with G3 surface continuity for a sculpted aesthetic. CNC machining of a full-size foam model followed, forming the foundation to create the master moulds to manufacture the D46.
- Operation and Interaction
- The kayak, being lightweight, is easily carried to the water and placed in. The user then sits in the cockpit, securing their feet on footrests and grasping the paddle with both hands. Propulsion is achieved through alternating paddle strokes on each side, while steering is managed by foot pedals controlling the rudder. This setup enables precise navigation and efficient gliding through the water, allowing for a smooth and responsive kayaking experience.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in March 2022 in Budapest and finished in January 2023 in Budapest. Since then It was exhibited in Budapest in the Hungarian Design Awards in October 2023.
- Specifications
- 5200 mm x 460 mm x 310 mm Crafted using vacuum infusion that ensures even resin distribution. Incorporates foam, fiberglass or carbon fiber, and epoxy-vinylester, balancing durability with light weight. Customization option from simple color selections to complex paint jobs. Customizable 3D printed components (race number holder, rudder hatch cover), available in any colors and with debossed graphics. 3D Printed parts: SLS 3D Print: Nylon PA12, Dyed black MJF 3D Print: Nylon PA12, Any color
- Keywords
- Kayak Design, Racing Kayak, Leisure Kayak, Touring Kayak, 3D Printing, Watercraft, Boat Design, Watersport, Carbon Fiber, Speed
