Taiwan Wins 53 Including a "Best of the Best" Red Dot Design Awards

Participant number rises 16% to

It seems that more and more manufacturers, especially in Asia, are realizing the importance of well-thought-out design in the commercial success of products. Such belief has been confirmed by the level of turnout at the "red dot design award 2009," where a record number of product entries were submitted. Such phenomenon makes sense since, especially during downturns and with emerging economies as China and India trying to catch up with their more developed rivals, leaner times also speeds attrition, which is also an opportune time for makers offering products with widely-popular combinations of form and function to widen the gap of superiority. Besides, to be associated with red dot of Germany, even without winning, may show a maker's sincerity to excel in product design; while to actually be cited by one of the big-4 design events globally is equivalent to garnering an Oscar for achieving world recognition in design excellence, a merit that is virtually inimitable in an age of reckless copycatting by shady operators, amateurs and desperados.

Taiwan, by now a virtual fixture among the winner's list at red dot, came away with 53 prizes, including the jewel of the crown: "best of the best" award.

The red dot award 2009 saw 3,231 entries submitted by 49 nations, rising about 16% to show the participants' confidence in the value of winning at red dot.

The international jury awarded the "red dot" to 683 products for high quality of design, 49 with the "red dot: best of the best" award, and 194 products with honorable mention, recognizing the degree of detail seen in such works.

Asian entries accounted for 17% of the total this year, with 53 of the winners coming from Taiwan alone. The red dot jury says that the tide of design excellence is shifting, for the number of Asian winners clearly proves that outstanding design is no longer an exclusively western domain.

Rising Awareness

Professor Dr. Peter Zec, design expert and initiator of the red dot design award, says that more and more Asian companies understand they can only succeed globally if they compete with top quality design. This year's results show convincingly that Asia is the market of the future.

Asian manufacturers used to excel with volume production, but in recent years there has been a substantial move towards quality. Peter Zec, describing the award-winning products, says that, whether in electronics, automobiles or household products, the Asian makers have come up with product ideas that are consistently inspiring and have the potential to set international trends.

"The large number of Taiwanese participants in the competition in particular has shown us that the priorities in the Asian design industry are constantly changing," Zec stresses, "the industry is therefore a part of competition to render a positive effect globally." According to the design expert, Asia this year shows it has the potential to be the future of creativity.

The design value of a company is becoming a decisive factor in weathering economic crisis. Design constitutes added-value, transforming brands into influential stars of everyday lives. Zec states critically that "In a world without familiar brands, we lose direction. Brands have the potential to give a culture identity and their design performance gives direction, a way of life, and shapes our everyday life in a lasting manner."

Targeted investment in design is a successful market strategy. "In times of crisis, companies consciously decide to submit fewer products, which however are better than ever," says Zec. "Also a sign of changing times is that for the first time, winners this year include products from nations traditionally not associated with excellent design, such as India, Thailand, Brazil, and Lebanon."

A partial winners' list from Taiwan is summarized in the below, including one "Best of the Best" winner. Some excellent products have been left out intentionally for they have already won prizes in other major international design events.

Winners From Taiwan

Prize: Best of the Best

Product: Domino music phone

Company: Foxconn Communication Technology Corp.

The Domino is a multimedia phone for music, video and 3G video call. The ultra slim device, available in six colors, is pleasant to hold and its flat metal front looks stylish. Its aluminum wraparound housing conveys durability and value. The touch scroll bar allows users to quickly and easily control the music. With a display resolution of 320x240 pixels and numeral keys, the Domino has an 8GB mini SD card and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Story Faucet

Company: Shengtai Brassware Co., Ltd.

A classic design not only reserving the primary, wall-mounted faucet, the Story Faucet also integrates contemporary and fashionable elements-the rounded body and handle-that are captivating to behold. The designer succeeds in delivering a design that is widely popular, one that is nostalgic to adults and enables children to enjoy the beauty of traditional and modern times.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Qisda Crystal (QLD-101) LED Light Fixture

Company: Qisda Corp.

Inspired by the light reflecting characteristics of crystal, the designer delivers the Crystal Light to tap such shimmering magic in an LED light fixture. This is an advanced design composed of a series of lighting units, each of which has a crystalline look and is magnetically linked to adjacent units. When switched off, its metal look emits a mysterious shade; while switched on, the LED bulbs in each unit shines via the crystals in changing colors, emitting a seductive luminescence. The Crystal Light fully utilizes LED's low-temperature feature to stop overheating surfaces.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Qisda Piano (QLD-202) LED ceiling light

Company: Qisda Corp.

Designed for sophisticated users looking for upscale lighting, this ceiling light has a long-swept unit with white suspended LEDs integrated in a metal frame, for a sleek and polished look. Multifunctional, this light's upper side offers ambient lighting, while the other side offers bright illumination for reading and other tasks. The minimalist design imbues subtle elegance in home decor, as well as being ideal for upscale offices.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Qisda QDF-101

Company: Qisda Corp.

This unique digital photo frame has a specially designed stand and an exchangeable frame, responding to the make-it-yourself (MIY) trend for personalization and fitting into any setting. Unlike similar products with extendable stands for height adjustment, the QDF-101 has a stand with knob to enable users to easily adjust height, direction by simple turning; while the easily exchangeable frame enables users to coordinate frame color to most interior decor.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Qisda Coral (QLD-103) LED Pendant Light

Company: Qisda Corp.

Targeted at younger users looking for a personal lighting statement to brighten their space. This pendant light, when used individually, looks like a blossoming flower, adding cozy elegance to any interior. When the 16 units are hung together, this light resembles a mid-air flower garden that gives off natural colors inside any home. The hydrangea-like lights create dreamy ambience as the LEDs light up the petal-like units, creating a unique effect of light and shadows.

Prize: red dot award

Product: ASUS Eee Keyboard

Company: Asustek Computer Inc.

The Eee Keyboard PC integrates a PC into the input device. Using aluminum allows the PC to be exceptionally slim and portable, while its slanted profile makes it ergonomic. Its lightweight and smooth form make it ideal for enjoying digital media in new locations as the living room. This keyboard-PC operates independently or can be easily connected to external monitors, including flat panel TVs. Operating independently, the 5-inch touch panel is used to manage media file schedule and Net surfing. When connected to another monitor, the touch panel becomes a secondary display to enable users to create shortcuts to launch their favorite functions.

Prize: red dot award

Product: ASUS RT-N17

Company: Asustek Computer Inc.

This wireless storage router has a special layer-mesh pattern on both sides for a mesmerizing effect that also provides cooling. Epitomizing wireless Net access, the RT-N17 has icons hidden behind the front panel, with such icons only visible when activated. Inspired by a book, the designer delivers a form that highlights RT-N17's information storage capabilities, with a wraparound housing that is comfortable to carry. Combining near silent fan-less technology and automatic power-saving mode, this is an environmentally-friendly device that is in tune to the times.

Prize: red dot award

Product: CO2-BRA Co2 Inflator

Company: Topeak Inc.

Designed to ease fixing flat bicycle tires, the new CO2-BRA is the latest Topeak innovation in the CO2 inflator category. For training and racing, the CO2-BRA saves valuable time when fixing a flat as the tire is filled quickly and more efficiently than with a traditional pump. The CO2-BRA is ergonomically-shaped with a thumb release button allowing effortless one-handed inflation, while the integrated safety indicator alerts the user if the 16 gram screw-in CO2 cartridge is armed for use. The CO2-BRA is designed to automatically fit both Presta and Schrader valves and features an integrated dust cover preventing contamination of the valve. Finally, the low weight (69gram + cartridge) and reduced size means that the CO2-BRA fits easily inside jersey pockets.

Prize: red dot award

Product: HTC Diamond HTC Diamond

Company: HTC

The HTC Touch Diamond offers a rich online experience to rival a notebook computer, allowing users to access Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia as freely as via broadband connections. The HTC Touch Diamond signals a giant leap forward in combining hi-tech prowess with intuitive usability and exhilarating design. Featuring a sharp 2.8-inch touch screen housed within stunning brushed metal and flawless faceted edges, the HTC Touch Diamond is as beautiful to behold as it is to use, complete with HTC's touch-responsive user interface, TouchFLO 3D, and ultra-fast HSDPA internet connectivity.

Prize: red dot award

Product: JustDrawIt!

Company: Pegatron Corp.

Meeting the need today to often turn on or off several electric devices, JustDrawIt is a power-managing appliance which visualizes users' habits of using electric appliances. Composed of one main device and a number of remote receivers, this power manager enables users to simply hand-draw on the timeline-based interface-helping to achieve wireless control of power to various electric appliances accordingly.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Pro-secure Support Brace

Company: Oppo Medical Corp.

The Oppo Medical team created the telescopic mechanism to offer better support and flexibility to knees. Allowing four easy length-controls for optimal support at various phases of recovery of knee injuries, the Angle Controller swivels to allow doctors, therapists to easily fine-tune the optimal movement for knees. Anatomically contoured shell offers customized fit and helps evaporate moisture for ultra skin comfort, this brace has lightweight aluminum for streamlined appearance and strengthened support.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Twins Square/Round Teapot Set

Company: Dragonfly Gallery Co. Ltd.

Aiming to blend the basic visual elements of classic Chinese aesthetics with contemporary touch, the designer of the Twins Square/Round Teapot Set was inspired by the Chinese philosophy for universe. Expressed in circle for heaven and square for earth, the teapot set consists of both forms to show completeness and harmony in Chinese culture, as well as the idea of symmetry in classic Chinese aesthetics. With a handle in the form of a square frame with two removable parts, the teapot can be picked up easily, achieving form and function with a traditionally symbolic message.

Prize: red dot award

Product: Z500 Gaming Laser Mouse

Company: Icon 7 Inc. (Design: CRE8-designstudio)

The choice for dedicated gamers, Icon7's Z500 Gaming Laser Mouse is engineered for all gaming actions, achieving the utmost in speed, precision, control and value. It features a patented interchangeable, washable fabric cover for soft-and-dry comfort during extended gaming. Its anti-slip scroll wheel leads the way in smooth gliding and in-control actions. Two convenient side buttons support swift up-and-down thumb control. It also offers a driver-free 5-speed tracking from 800 to 3200 DPI, while the ultra smooth PTFE-feet minimize friction and energy-consumption for effortless gliding across most surfaces.