Street Artists Nominated for Mainstream National Design Award

The enigmatic project, "Everything is OK" which uses police-style barricade tape to distribute positive messages has been nominated for the Cooper Hewitt's annual People's Design Award.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 30, 2008 -- An odd project know as "Everything is OK" is making a splash at this year's People's Design Awards. The awards, sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper Hewitt Museum, recognize the best design concepts in all genres. Voting is open to the pubic.

Despite the relative obscurity of the "Everything is OK" project (which is simply a roll of barricade tape emblazoned with the upbeat message that is its namesake), the design concept is making waves at the competition, garnering more popular votes than such ubiquitously celebrated 20th-Century American designs as the Eames Lounge Chair, the Airstream Trailer, Wikipedia, and a host of Apple products including the iPhone.

I think it shows that a simple idea can still capture the imagination

Design is about making people think and feel and then motivating them toward action.

We've all been enduring some pretty tumultuous times lately

People are ready to connect with positive ideas that can help them express their views, and even their fears. Some of the design concepts we're up against have mailing lists of thousands and they're actively campaigning for votes. We just hope that people see our idea and connect with it.

I have no expectation that we will win, given the odds we're up against, but if this political season has taught us anything its not to count out a good idea just because its different.

"I think it shows that a simple idea can still capture the imagination," says Christopher Simmons, a designer and one of the creators of the Everything is OK concept. "Design is about making people think and feel and then motivating them toward action."

For that reason, Simmons doesn't worry about the project's underdog status, "We've all been enduring some pretty tumultuous times lately," he says. "People are ready to connect with positive ideas that can help them express their views, and even their fears. Some of the design concepts we're up against have mailing lists of thousands and they're actively campaigning for votes. We just hope that people see our idea and connect with it."

How does Simmons' see his chances?

"I have no expectation that we will win, given the odds we're up against, but if this political season has taught us anything its not to count out a good idea just because its different."

Despite Simmon's casual attitude toward the surprising success of the project, the popular results tell their own story. "Everything is OK" currently ranks #2 in overall voting. Many other nominated designs would seem to be a lock for recognition -- but the designs such as the Blackberry phone, Beijing's "Bird's Nest" stadium, and the Fender guitar are all lagging behind more socially-oriented projects like "Everything is OK." Time will tell if that holds true.

Voting for the People's Design Awards is open through October 21, 2008.

To vote for the Everything is OK project, click here.

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