INDEX: award 2009 exhibition at kongens nytorv, copenhagen image © designboom

on friday the 28th august the winners of the INDEX: award 2009 were announced at drebyen concert hall, copenhagen. the biennial award which first began in 2005 aims to generate more ‘design to improve life’ and enable a higher quality of life all over the world. with a total of 500 000 euros, financed by the state of denmark the award is the biggest design award in the world.

each of the five winners represents one of the INDEX: award categories – body, home, work, play and community – that together span the spectrum of human activity and are relevant and understandable to people all over the world.

the INDEX: award exhibition is currently on display at kongens nytorv, copenhagen showcasing the work of 72 finalists from 54 countries, in the five universal categories. the exhibition will tour internationally and take place at a central public square which is accessible to everyone and with free admission, allowing everyone to experience ‘design to improve life’.

INDEX: award 2009 winners INDEX: award 2009 exhibition at kongens nytorv, copenhagen image © designboomINDEX: award 2009 winners ‘pig 05049’ by christien meindertsma play category image © designboom

INDEX: award 2009 winners ‘pig 05049’ by christien meindertsma play category image © designboom

INDEX: award 2009 winners winner of the play category christien meindertsma portrait © designboom http://www.christienmeindertsma.com

INDEX: award 2009 winners ‘freeplay fetal heart rate monitor’ by philip goodwin, stefan zwahlen and john hutchinson body category image © designboom

INDEX: award 2009 winners winner of the body category john hutchinson http://www.freeplayenergy.com portrait © designboom

INDEX: award 2009 winners

‘kiva.org’ co founded by matt flannery and jessica jackley http://www.kiva.org brings lenders and small entrepreuners together to aggregate loans into a major center of person to person micro finance work category

INDEX: award 2009 winners premal shah, president of kiva.org portrait © designboom

INDEX: award 2009 winners ‘better place’ by shai agassi community category http://www.betterplace.com image © designboom

INDEX: award 2009 winners ‘better place’ – electric infrastructure that makes electric transport convenient and affordable community category

INDEX: award 2009 winners shai agassi founder and CEO of better place portrait © designboom

INDEX: award 2009 winners ‘chulha’ smokeless stove by unmesh kulkarni; praveeen mareguddi part of philips design team based in india http://www.design.philips.com home category

INDEX: award 2009 winners stefano marzano CEO and chief creative director at philips design in eindhoven, netherlands home category portrait © designboom

read also winning ways of making a better world by alice rawsthorn