red dot award: product design 2007 - Red Dot Online

In search of good design – the red dot design awardThe red dot design award, whose origin goes back to1955, is one of the largest most renowned design competitionsin the world today. It consists of the differentdisciplines “red dot award: product design”, “red dotaward: communication design”, and “red dot award:design concepts” which has been held annually since2005 in Singapore. In total, the 2006 competition hasreceived more than 5,000 entries from almost 50 nations.aid when talking to clients and customers – receivinga red dot always stands for outstanding design achievementsand can be communicated excellently with thehelp of the label.On the following pages, we would like to introduceyou to the “red dot award: product design” in greaterdetail.Its distinction, the red dot, has a high identificationvalue and is used internationally by award-winningcompanies as a quality label for good design: Inadvertising, at the point of sale, as an argumentationIn the limelight: the winners of the “red dot: best of the best”red dot in SingaporeFull house: more than 1,200 guests celebrate the red dot award-winners

Quality label of design – the red dotThe red dot is the quality label for outstanding design.All products that have received the red dot have beenexamined by a jury of international experts and standfor outstanding design achievements. Products that areallowed to carry this distinction attract worldwideattention of the media, consumers, and the industry.red dotThe red dot annually honours those products whichstand out from comparable products due to their gooddesign. The red dot stands for the high design qualityof a product, thus making it stand out from the massesof anonymous goods. Last year, this honorary distinctionfor particularly exceptional products was awardedto slightly more than 20 percent of all submitted products.red dot: best of the bestThe best products in a category, which have proven theirhighly outstanding and pioneering achievements, receivethe distinction “red dot: best of the best”. Last year, thejury awarded this honorary distinction for highestdesign quality to only 36 submitted works. All prizewinnersof the “red dot: best of the best” will receivethe red dot trophy on stage at the awards presentation.red dot: design team of the yearThe presentation of the “red dot: design team of theyear” is the highlight of every competition. This specialdistinction, for which you cannot apply, has beenawarded annually since 1991 to design teams whichhave had an impact on worldwide markets due to theirconsistently innovative design achievements. As a symbolof this the team receives the “Radius” touring cup.The prize-winners include companies such as Leybold,Braun, Slany, moll design, Neumeister Design, frogdesign,Mercedes-Benz, Siemens, IDEO, Studio deLucchi, Philips, Audi, Sony, Festo, Apple, Nokia,Pininfarina, adidas, and LG Electronics.Winner “red dot: design team of the year 2006” – LG ElectronicsWinner of a red dot – office chair BaronWinner of a “red dot: best of the best” – Honda Civic

Guaranteeing objectivity and fairness – the red dot juryThe quality of a competition not only depends on therules of its adjudication, but above all on the consistencywith which these rules are applied. Therefore, the juryof the red dot design award guarantees – beyond highqualityexpertise – absolute independence. Only internationalexperts who have not submitted any works oftheir own to the competition are invited to becomemembers of the jury. The jurors are recognised designauthorities who come from all around the world so thatnational cultural or social aspects have limited significance.The jurors are university lecturers, independentdesigners and expert journalists, who all have profoundknowledge and a high international reputation.Furthermore, in contrast to other competitions in thered dot design award the actual products are adjudicated.Despite high logistical costs all submitted products areset up in halls especially rented for the adjudicationphase, which lasts several days. There the jury examines,tests and evaluates the products according to criteria suchas degree of innovation, functionality, self-explanatoryquality, and ecological soundness.This results in a fair and balanced judgement whichmore than satisfies international standards.Simon Ong, Chul-ho Kim, Bjørn DahlstrømSimon Ong, Chul-ho Kim, Bjørn DahlstrømThe jury members of the “red dotaward: product design 2007” include:Masayo Ave, JapanGordon Bruce, USAProf. Rido Busse, GermanyTony K. M. Chang, TaiwanVivian Cheng Wai Kwan, HongkongSebastian Conran, EnglandProf. Carlos Hinrichsen, ChileDaniel Huber, AustriaProf. Florian Hufnagl, GermanyProf. Stefan Lengyel, GermanyThomas Lockwood, USAFrancesco Milani, SwitzerlandGuiliano Molineri, ItalyGiuliano Molineri, Carlos Hinrichsen, Kenji EkuanAssessment criteriaDegree of innovationFunctionalityFormal qualityErgonomicsDurabilitySymbolic and emotionalcontentProduct peripheralsSelf-explanatory qualityEcological soundness

A night revolving around the red dot...Glamourous highlight – the red dot awards presentationEach year anew, the highlight of the competition is thefestive awards ceremony in the Essen opera house, theAalto-Theater, which as an architectural site of internationalclass provides the suitable atmosphere for anevent which is all about honouring good design. Thisgala of international design has attracted more than1,200 guests annually from design, architecture, industry,media, and politics who come to celebrate the bestdesign achievements or to make new or deepen existingcontacts.During the awards presentation all “red dot: best of thebest” award-winners will be asked to come onto thestage to receive their red dot trophy in the limelight. Thehighlight of the evening, however, will be the honouringof the design team of the year with a festive laudatoryspeech by an international design personality and thepresentation of the “Radius” touring cup.The supporting cultural programme is characterised bythe performance of the renowned aalto ballett theateressen as well as high-quality musical performances.A fixed institution in the programme of the awards presentation:the performance of the legendary aalto ballett theater essenFor one night it belongs to good design only:the stage of the Essen opera house, the Aalto-Theater“The ‘red dot: design team of the year’, a titleannounced by the red dot design award, couldbe compared to becoming the champion of –if existing – the World Cup in Design.”Jae Jin Shim, LG ElectronicsIt has already passed through the hands of many famous designers:the “Radius” touring cup, which Jae Jin Shim, Vice President LGCorporate Design Center (middle), received in 2006 after a laudatoryspeech by Giorgetto Giugiaro (left)

Into the early hours –Winners’ Dinner and Designers’ NightFollowing the awards presentation, the Designers’ Nightwill invite guests to a glamourous celebration in the reddot design museum. In addition, in the impressiveatmosphere of the stoker’s position, the “cathedral ofindustrial culture”, the red dot cocktail will be servedwhich has been especially created for red dot events.While some will already be celebrating, others will meetat the exclusive Winners’ Dinner first. Some 400 invitedguests, winners of the red dot design award with theirguests as well as honorary guests from industry, politics,and the media, will enjoy a meal prepared by one ofthe most interesting German chefs, the Michelin starchef Frank Rosin and his crew. Here conversations can bedeepened and valuable contacts can be made.Celebrating into the early hours: the Designers’ Night in the red dot design museumMinistering spirits: Michelin star chef Frank Rosin and hiscrew preparing the Winners’ DinnerSpecial get-together of the industry: the Winners’ Dinner

Design on stage...Stylish setting for design products –the red dot design museum in GermanyWith its more than 1,000 exhibits on an area of morethan 4,000 square metres the red dot design museum isthe largest exhibition of contemporary design worldwide.For at least one year, all the products that havereceived a red dot will be exhibited here in the breathtakingsetting of the former Zeche Zollverein colliery,which has been part of the UNESCO world cultural heritagesince 2001.The museum-like atmosphere of the building is mostlythe result of its impressive architecture. The former boilerhouse of the Zeche Zollverein colliery was redesigned forthe red dot design museum by the British architect LordNorman Foster. It is one of the most impressive industrialbuildings of the first half of the 20th century and isoften with awe referred to as a “cathedral of industrialculture”.The red dot design museum is a magnet for design andarchitecture lovers and records more than 120,000 visitorsannually.Stylish setting for design products: the red dot design museum in GermanyWell visited: some 120,000 people visit thered dot design museum every yearFascinating: the contrast between old industrialarchitecture and modern industrial design

Creative centre in the heart of Asia –the red dot design museum in SingaporeIn November 2005, a second red dot design museumopened in Singapore. It is located in the red dot Traffic,an impressive colonial style building which used to bethe headquarters of the traffic police. Today, the buildingpainted in bright red is the creative centre ofSingapore and the red dot design museum is its mainattraction. Apart from the red dot design museumthe red dot Traffic houses creative companies such asadvertising agencies and design studios.The red dot design museum in Singapore also offersthe winners of the “red dot award: product design” theunique opportunity to present their prize-winning productsto the Asian public at the Asian hub, in the heart ofthe booming city state of Singapore.Four-week special exhibition: “Design on stage –winners red dot award: product design 2007”All award-winning products will first be presented tothe public in the four-week special exhibition “Designon stage – winners red dot award: product design 2007”in the red dot design museum. The exhibition openingwill take place on the night of the awards presentationwith guests from all around the world. After the fourweeks all award-winning works will become part of thered dot design museum’s permanent exhibition.red dot on tourThe red dot goes on tour. You will encounter it worldwideat special occasions and always in a high-classenvironment. It is accompanied by a selection of theaward-winning products – a very special form of promotion.Last year’s stops alone included Tokyo, Moscow,Singapore, Prague, and Brno.Design on stage: part of the annual special exhibition is the presentation of the design team of the yearCreative centre in the heart of Asia: the red dot design museum in Singaporered dot on tour: the winning products are sent on tour andcan be viewed around the world (here in Tokyo)

Navigation in die ZukunftBereits der erste iPod gab dem multimedialenZeitalter zu Beginn des neuen Jahrtausendseine neue Form. Ein Gerät, mit welchem manseine Musik und alle persönlichen Daten wieFotos oder Adressen verwalten konnte, hatteeine Erscheinungsform gefunden: Es war eineArt breiter Stick mit einem Scrollrad (ClickWheel) für eine sehr einfache Navigation.Durch seine Gestaltung kommuniziert deriPod seit seinem Erscheinen vor allem eines:Der multimediale Alltag muss keineswegskompliziert sein. Waren die ersten iPods nochin etwa so groß wie eine Zigarettenschachtel,war der iPod mini bald schon viel kleiner under passte in die Jackentasche. Der iPod nanoist als die neueste Generation nun dünner alsein Bleistift und noch etwas leichter. SeineRadien sind ausgewogen und das Click Wheelist nach wie vor übersichtlich und gut mitnur einer Hand zu bedienen. Auch technischist der iPod nano noch etwas ausgereifter:Sein Farbdisplay hat eine höhere Auflösungund man kann zugleich Musik hören, Bilderanschauen oder auch Spiele spielen. In der2-GB-Ausführung lassen sich Daten in einerMenge von etwa 500 Songs speichern, inder 4-GB-Version sind es bis zu 1000. Einwichtiger Aspekt der Gestaltung ist auchdie Oberfläche des iPod nano. Durch einemetallische Oberfläche hat er eine hochwertigeAnmutung und wird zu einem samtigenHandschmeichler. War der ursprüngliche iPodin vielen Farben erhältlich, so wirkt diesernun wie ein klares Statement der reduziertenGestaltung. Er führt eine Formenspracheweiter in ein neues multimediales Zeitalter,in dem man multimediale Anwendungenselbstverständlich miteinander verknüpftund das Speichermedium jederzeit in derTasche mit sich trägt.Navigating into the futurethe iPod mini was to be much smaller and glossy finish it has a high-value appearanceAt the beginning of the new millennium, the even fitted into a pocket. Now, the latest iPod and is soft and pleasing to the touch. Whilefirst iPod had already given a new form to the nano generation is even thinner than a pencil the original iPod is available in many colours,multimedia age. A device which offered the and also has become lighter yet. Its radii are the new model looks like a clear statementpossibility to store and retrieve one’s music well-balanced and the Click Wheel is still as of reduced design. It continues the languageand other personal data such as photos and clear as ever, allowing for easy one-handed of form into a new multimedia age, where itaddresses, had found its form of appearance: navigation The iPod nano is also technically goes without saying that different multimediait was a kind of a broad stick with a Click further advanced: with its high-resolution applications can be connected to one anotherWheel for high ease of navigation. Since colour screen it allows users to play music, and that the storage medium can be carried inits market launch, the design of the iPod view photo slideshows or play games. The a pocket, taking it anywhere one goes.has above all communicated one thing: 2GB model has storage capacity for up to 500multimedia-based daily life does not have to songs; the 4GB iPod model holds up to 1000be complicated at all. While the first iPods songs. The surface of the iPod nano is alsostill were about the size of a cigarette box, an important aspect of its design. Due to its80 red dot best of the best 81Communication...red dot design yearbookFor many years, the yearbooks of the red dot design awardhave belonged to the international reference works ofexcellent design. This compendium presents the winningproducts in high-quality texts and photographs.Companies, journalists, architects, planners, designers,and those interested in design from all around the worlduse it in their daily work and keep the yearbooks over theyears as collectors’ items and an archive of excellentdesign.Every year, the red dot design yearbook presents the latestproducts from the most important industries – from furnitureto lamps, automobiles, machines, and wellness tofashion, sports, and accessories. Information on the newdesign is connected with the most important trends, andnumerous illustrations show the products and the peoplewho created them. It is full of fascinating stories abouthow new products are created and reconstructs the developmentof the design team of the year in a several pageessay.red dot onlineThe website www.red-dot.de is another interesting presentationplatform for the winners of the red dot designaward. All winners of the red dot design award arepresented to the public for at least one year in the largeonline exhibition. Every entry can optionally be supplementedby a detailed designer or company profile. Eachaward-winning product will get a banner which directsthe website visitors’ attention to the winners. Additionally,trend reports on current developments in design aswell as news from the world of design will be publishedon the website on a regular basis. This has made red dotonline one of the most important design research toolsfor industry, the media and the architectural trade, butalso for consumers.Covers with cult statusQuality standard: the presentation of the red dot award-winning productsred dotdesign yearbook2006/2007Peter Zec (Ed. / Hrsg.)iPod nanoApple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, USAWerksdesign / In-house design:Apple Industrial Design Teamwww.apple.comreddot edition“Having done the impossible job of diligently sourcingout the best designs in the world – literally – thered dot design yearbook 2006/2007 by Peter Zec (Ed.)compiles the ‘best of the best’ in the design industry ina single, near 600-page hardcover book.”Taxi Design Network, 19 July 2006Linked: from the online presentation of the winning product directly to your homepage

ed dot communication servicesReceiving a red dot should only be the beginning of aseries of PR and marketing activities. The use of the labelin particular, which thanks to its eye-catching qualityalone generates a high degree of attention for anyproduct carrying it, contributes to increasing thepopularity of a product immensely and ensures that abrand will in future be associated with good design. Forthis purpose many options are available such as acrylicdisplays, posters, postcards, and stickers, which can beused at the point of sale.In addition, the red dot more and more often appears inadvertising campaigns and editorial articles. This is to agreat extent the result of the PR and marketing activitiesof red dot GmbH & Co. KG. Particularly interesting is themedia co-operation with WirtschaftsWoche, one of theleading German business magazines, because this cooperationputs design as a success factor into the focusof decision-makers.The activities of red dot GmbH & Co. KG are furtherenhanced by the award-winners’ many media andmarketing activities which prominently use the red dotas a quality label – a right which is exclusively reservedfor the award-winners.Successful marketing: the red dot as quality seal in the award-winners’ advertisementsAdvertising the red dot: the current advertising campaignstrengthens the renown of the award Quick access to further information: profiles and product information at www.red-dot-award.comStrong media partner: the headline for the awardspresentation 2006 in WirtschaftsWoche

Registration details...red dot award: product design 2007Eligibility criteriaManufacturers and designers of industriallymanufactured products from allaround the world are invited to take partin the “red dot award: product design2007”.The products must have either beenlaunched onto the market or gone intoserial production between 1 January 2005and 1 July 2007. Unique handcrafteddesigns are not eligible to participate inthe “red dot award: product design”competition. Each participant can registeran unlimited number of products for the“red dot award: product design”.Product categories1 Living rooms and bedrooms2 Households and kitchens3 Leisure, sports, wellnessand caravaning4 Architecture and interior design5 Industry and crafts6 Transports7 Bathrooms, heatings, sanitaryinstallations and air-conditioning8 Life science and medicine9 Offices and administration10 Media and home electronics11 Computers and accessories12 Jewellery, fashion and luxuries13 Lighting and lampsRegistrationThis year, participants can only registeronline for the “red dot award: productdesign 2007”.The registration form and all the importantparticipation details are available at:www.red-dot.de/registrationRegistration fee:Early Bird: 190 euros incl. VATRegular: 210 euros incl. VATLate-comers: 240 euros incl. VATNations taking part in the red dot design award 2006DatesClosing dates for registrations:Early Bird: 8 December 2006Regular: 19 January 2007Late-comers: 2 February 2007Adjudication: February 2007Participants will be informedabout the adjudication resultsat the end of February 2007.Awards presentation:25 June 2007Special exhibition:26 June – 23 July 2007Permanent exhibition:24 July 2007 – 30 June 2008Online exhibition:25 June 2007 – 30 June 2008red dot design yearbook:will be published on 25 June 2007ContactPhone +49 (0)201 30 10 4-20Fax +49 (0)201 30 10 4-40E-mail team@red-dot-award.comwww.red-dot.deDesign Zentrum Nordrhein WestfalenEssen, GermanyMedia partner