Here we are on the cusp of the last days of the year. For most of us, whatever we were going to do in 2014, we’ve done. As you look back, we hope your dreams were big and challenging projects found you this year. And most of all, we hope you are proud of the solutions/products/artifacts you made happen.
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We know that we’re proud of you. In fact, we’re spending the next few days sharing some of our favorite customer stories and accomplishments here on the blog. Those include this collection of products recognized by the international Red Dot Award for product design.
More than 15,500 submissions from 70 countries were entered in the contest for 2014. Among the winners were these gems from PTC Creo customers:
Red Dot: Best of the Best
KUKA – LBR iiwa Leichtbauroboter
The LBR iiwa is a robot that operates with extraordinary sensitivity and precision. 2014 Red Dot jurors said it “represents a thorough redefinition of lightweight robots” as it feels its way toward objects, allows itself to be gently pushed away, or withdraws automatically if an unexpected object (like a human) gets in its way. Used in surgical medicine and physical therapy, the device is engineered so that it is so conscious of its surroundings that you don’t even need a safety screen to work with it. It’s good looking, too, with a slim design, light aluminum body, and almost no hard edges.
Look at the function keys on your computer—F1, F2, etc. Those same keys have been in the same place since we all sat down to our earliest desktop computers. With the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Lenovo designers took what is arguably the least used part of the keyboard and packed it with functionality while at the same time making it easier to use.
How? The keys change dynamically depending on the application you use. This might be especially useful to young users who are least likely to look up commands like CTRL+SHIFT+F4. The materials used on this device merit some mention too; carbon fiber in the top cover and magnesium alloy in the casing make the ThinkPad X1 both lightweight and robust.
Robert Bosch WAY287W3 Home Professional SuperEco
Nothing impresses designers more than symmetry and simplicity. So when Bosch presented its washing machine with just one dial centered in the middle of the control panel, Red Dot judges responded. They wrote, “The WAY287 W3 merges efficient technology with sophisticated design.” Easy to use and intuitive, the Bosch machine also includes an eco-silent engine and anti-vibration sidewalls—because even those of us who are less tuned to good design can appreciate home appliances that don’t overpower the TV.
All day long, we handle things we shouldn’t put in our mouths—pet hair, raw meat, and even money. Luckily most of us have indoor plumbing to wash it all off. Turn the knob, scrub your hands, and walk away germ free. Your faucet, however, may not fare so well. Every time dirty hands approach, they leave germs behind.
To you and I, keeping the fixture clean is a nuisance. To designers at Grohe, it’s just another engineering challenge. So they created the Minta Touch, a kitchen tap that you activate by tapping it with any part of your body—a forearm for example. The water starts at a preset temperature, so you’re not surprised by water that’s too cold or hot. The Red Dot jury said of Minta’s creation, “Well-implemented technology has resulted in a kitchen tap of particular quality,” and named it among the best of the Red Dot best.
If any product deserves the attention of a good designer, it’s the wheelchair. For people who have to spend significant amounts of time in them, they’re uncomfortable, hard to clean, and cumbersome. At least that’s what design/architect/postmodernist rock star Michael Graves thought when he found himself paralyzed for three years from an infection back in 2003.
He turned his talent and his business to rethinking common hospital equipment, including the hospital wheelchair. Out of that initiative came the Stryker Medical Prime TC, a comfortable, sturdy, inviting, and reliable chair that can be power washed. When the Red Dot jury named it one of their Best of the Best, they deemed the chair “harmonious.”
Red Dot Awards
The XVR3 is a beacon (like those found in factories or forklifts) that uses LED technology and creates a rotating light effect—all without moving parts. The result is a device that’s rugged, long-lasting, and maintenance-free. The Red Dot jury especially liked its friendly and modern appeal.
The company that defined modern product design in the mid 20th century now says that it’s ready to reclaim its heritage and “take up the legendary legacy of Dieter Rams and colleagues.” If you’re a fan of design history, you know that’s a mighty ambitious statement. Rams, who made his name at Braun in the 1950s through 1980s, is beloved among designers who follow the unobtrusive less-is-better philosophy. He wrote what many regard as the rules for good design. Now, the Braun website says it’s adopting Rams’ mindset and trying to develop appliances that are “readily comprehensible and superbly functional down to the smallest detail.”
How’s that working out? Red Dot jurors suggest the company may have nailed it with the new Series 9 shaver, saying it delivers “the highest possible comfort in use and cutting-edge technology.” Watch the product video and see what you think.
What does it take for a refrigerator to earn a Red Dot? Jurors for the 2014 awards look at lighting and fittings. For example, Liebherr’s SBS 7014 side-by-side refrigerator includes an LED column that lights up your food when the door opens. Transparent dividers and drawers ensure light spreads evenly through the interior and your food is organized. Jurors say the design is sophisticated and admired its self-retracting drawers with damper closing—a great convenience for anyone with an armload of groceries
Red Dot recognized Sedus for its ergonomic office chair, the Quarterback. With a design based on “generosity, lightness, and dynamism,” the Quarterback offers a removable backrest for storage and shipping convenience. The jury at Red Dot writes, “The design of the quarterback took into account all aspects, in particular a comfortable and ergonomic seating experience and the use of recyclable materials.” Sedus works with PTC-Authorized Reseller INNEO for its product development software. Go behind the scenes and meet the Sedus team in this INNEO video featuring the award-winning design.
Ed – Congratulations to these and all our customers who thought of new and more attractive ways to solve design problems in 2014! Has your company won a design or innovation award for a product designed with PTC Creo? Contact us at creo@ptc.com to share the news!
