Des Plaines, IL — The Geberit Group, a major European force in plumbing technology, has joined the sponsorship of the 2008 “Next Generation Design Competition” sponsored by Metropolis magazine, corporate officials announced.

The design competition awards a $10,000 prize and is open to any designer or architect in practice for 10 years or less whose entries reflect considerations of sustainability. Sustainability considerations for this year must focus on water, contest officials said.

The contest seeks entries that address water consumption, reclamation and efficiency at all scales of design. Innovative design solutions – products, interiors, buildings, landscapes, communication systems or anything else – conceived for handling water are requested.

“The time for new thinking about water is now,” said John Fitzgerald, director of marketing for Geberit North America. “We believe such competitions are important, and our support of the 2008 Next Generation Design Competition is a way to express our own company’s sustainability values.”

“Good design today incorporates systems thinking, sustainability, accessibility and materials exploration, and is holistic,” Fitzgerald added. “This design contest is a very good way to bring all this together.”

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