Innovative mining boot steps closer to award

Encompassing a suite of innovative technologies and a range of features not used before in the mining environment, the Blundstone new-generation 980 Underground Mining Boot has been shortlisted for the coveted Good Design Awards.

Blundstone CEO Steve Gunn says Blundstone worked directly with the miners experiencing first hand the environment they operate in, enabling designers to create a purpose-built boot that stands up to the harshest of conditions while addressing an age old health and safety problem.

“The Blundstone 980 Underground Mining Boot has fundamentally changed the way mining boots are made. We have designed a boot with a high level of ankle support and stability control whilst ensuring it is extremely comfortable and watertight, boosting overall footwear performance and longevity.

“The boot is expected to reduce absenteeism and associated costs relating to foot health issues and injuries caused by underperforming footwear,” said Gunn.

With its origins dating back to 1958, the Good Design Awards showcase superior examples of good design across a broad range of industries and design disciplines, with seven main awards categories and 25 subcategories.

The judges commented: “The Blundstone 980 Underground Mining Boot represents a true understanding of the end user. This is true design excellence in every regard and a showcase of what good design can bring to a very challenging project with tough customers. The Blundstone Mining Boot is a beautifully resolved product that has clearly gone through a professional design process.”

After a week-long judging process involving more than 30 local and international design experts, only 266 of the 380 entries qualified for the Good Design Selection stage. These entries are now in the running to receive the country’s highest design honour, to be announced at the Good Design Awards Gala evening on 29 May in Sydney.

To qualify for the Good Design Selection, entries must satisfy the stringent criteria for good design that includes factors such as safety, quality, functionality, sustainability and innovation.

The Good Design Awards conduct one of the most rigorous assessment processes in the world and to qualify for this round is a significant achievement.

Dr Brandon Gien, the CEO of Good Design Australia who manages the annual awards program, said, “We pride ourselves in upholding very high standards in our evaluation process and, as a result, only the best submissions make it through to this stage.

“I’m very pleased that the Blundstone 980 Underground Mining Boot has gone on to this stage of the Good Design Awards. It is a testament to the hard work the designers have put in to bring this project to market.”