Design for Good: Interactive Idea Project Wins Gold
An innovative collaboration between GE and frog design has just earned gold. Their joint effort, the Interactive Design Idea Project, won the 2012 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) in the research and strategy category.
The award highlights how smart design and clean tech can come together to drive change—especially when combined with open collaboration and storytelling.
What Was the Project?
The Design Idea Project was part of GE’s Ecomagination Challenge, which aimed to crowdsource solutions for building a smarter power grid. frog design helped GE create a visual platform that simplified and humanized energy innovation.
This wasn’t just about flashy graphics. It was about engaging the public. The platform allowed users to explore energy ideas, learn how clean technologies work, and see which concepts were gaining support.
At its core, it was storytelling—powered by clean energy.
Why It Worked
The project combined interactive storytelling, data visualization, and social design. Instead of hiding behind technical jargon, it made complex energy ideas relatable. Users could follow startups, vote for concepts, and track their development over time.
It turned a technical challenge into a collaborative experience—one that encouraged people to become part of the solution.
According to the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), this approach reflected the very best in strategic design thinking. It focused not just on what was being built, but why it mattered.
Design That Drives Action
frog’s strategy wasn’t just about creating a website. It aimed to inspire engagement. The platform supported real-world ideas—many of which later received venture funding from GE.
By connecting people to purpose, the Interactive Idea Project helped turn passive viewers into active participants. It also demonstrated how storytelling and sustainability can work hand in hand.
The IDEA Gold Award recognized that potential—and the impact it had on reshaping how we talk about energy.
The Bigger Picture
Design matters—especially in clean tech. Tools like the Interactive Idea Project help us reimagine the future by making abstract solutions feel tangible. When we visualize clean energy, we’re more likely to support it.
As climate urgency grows, the need for engaging, transparent platforms like this becomes even more important.
Final Thoughts
The Interactive Idea Project struck gold not just for its visuals—but for its vision. By blending design, community, and innovation, it showed how digital platforms can power real environmental progress.
It’s proof that design isn’t just how something looks. It’s how it connects.
Learn More:
🔗 frog Design – Strategy and Innovation Studio
🔗 IDSA – IDEA 2012 Award Winners
For more information, visit http://www.idea8.com/ or call 312.482.8866.
