South African product designers are invited to submit entries for the 2008 SABS Design Excellence Awards. There are six categories - home and office ware, medical and healthcare, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, transport, automotive, and mining and machinery - as well as a host of other awards. To enter, the product must have been on the market for a year or more.

Running at the same time is the SABS Design Institute's Prototype Initiative where product designers with working prototype models will have the opportunity to get advice on how to get their prototypes out of the garage and on the way to production. Confidential consultations with a small panel of design experts, designers and engineers will take place from July 7 to 11.

Deadlines for both initiatives are May 15, 2008. Visit www.designinstitute.org.za for more information and to enter.