Contract magazine, along with The Center for Health Design, announced early this afternoon (November 15) at the Healthcare Design.10 conference the winners of its annual Nightingale Awards. Five winners, as well as one honorable mention, were named across a variety of markets. The annual program, which is open to conference exhibitors showcasing new and innovative products launched since the Nightingale 2009 awards, seeks to promote and recognize excellence in product design that enhances the quality of healthcare.

The 2010 Nightingale Award Winners are (scroll to end for additional product information and photos):

• Pocket™ by Nurture by Steelcase, Booth 302
• Dignity Collection by Spec Furniture, Booth 516
• Essentials Collection by Carnegie, Booth 465
• Suzanne Tick Marker Glass by Skyline Design, Booth 547
• Mondo IDEA by Mondo, Booth 256

Additionally, this year’s judges bestowed an Honorable Mention designation to ITC, Inc. for its Illuminated Safety Handle (Booth 125), citing the product as “a great start to an innovative and needed solution in the market.”

Winners will receive editorial coverage in an upcoming issue of Contract magazine, as well as on the publication's ContractDesign.com Web site, and receive a certificate and personalized glass award.

The 2010 Nightingale Awards winners were selected by a panel of healthcare industry and design professionals. This year’s jurors—Debbie McDonald, principal, Agnew Peckham; Pamela Redden, director, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Brad Smith, principal and creative director, Taylor; and Jocelyn Stroupe, principal, Cannon Design—walked the show floor prior to the conference’s opening on Saturday, November 13, and Sunday, November 14, to view each of the 32 entries. Each product was evaluated on merits of overall contribution to the quality of healthcare; functionality; quality/durability; aesthetics/style; environmental sustainability; and pricing.

During the judges’ deliberation, “Where is the innovation?” was the common question posed to each product under review. “The competition is meant to designate those products directly contributing to the quality of healthcare. We’re looking to recognize those products that are innovative, present something new that we haven’t seen before, and meet an existing need in the market,” say the judges during their deliberation.