Winning the Gold in Innovative Design Technology
2012/10/12 | By Quincy LiangThe five Gold Award winners of the COMPUTEX d&i awards 2012 were honored during the official opening of the 2012 COMPUTEX TAIPEI (Taipei International Information Technology Show) held in early June. COMPUTEX TAIPEI is one of the world's largest information and communication technology (ICT) trade fairs.
Forty-four entries received the exceptional innovation and design achievement award, out of a total of 205 submissions from seven different countries (in 2011, the total was 179 entries from six countries).
Manufacturers, designers, sales representatives, importers and specialist retailers from Singapore, China, the United States, Thailand, Australia, Israel and Taiwan participated in this year's competition, hosted for the fifth time by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and iF International Forum Design of Germany. The COMPUTEX d&i awards were organized by the iF Branch Office Taiwan.
The team of judges consisted of Dan Formosa of Smart Design (United States), Kris Verstockt of Cre8 Design (Taiwan), Marcus Solomon of XD Design (Taiwan), Roger Lin of Nova Design (Taiwan) and Shigenori Asakura of GK Design Group (Japan).
Seven Major Categories
All COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2012 exhibitors and registered IT firms in Taiwan can participate in the design competition. Products are awarded prizes in seven major categories: communication products, components and parts, computer systems, peripherals, data storage device/media, optoelectronic display and digital audio/video, and gaming and entertainment. Judges evaluated entries according to degree of innovation, design quality, workmanship, choice of material, environmental friendliness, functionality, utility value, safety, ergonomics, universal design and brand value/branding.
Award winners from Taiwan are entitled to use both the "Taiwan Good Design" label and the GD-mark certification once they have registered with the national Taiwan Design Center (TDC).
Judges' Impressions
"This was an opportunity for the companies that submitted entries to evolve by taking a more people-focused approach to design," said juror Dan Formosa of Smart Design. "Although numerous entries highlighted the technical features of the products, few emphasized the 'benefits'. Many of the entries could have provided more insight into how the products enhance the brand and the future of the company that produced them. This does not diminish the quality of the best entries. What it does is emphasize the tremendous opportunity for companies and designers in Taiwan to think of design more holistically and to realize that design defines the brand and determines the company's future potential and value."
Marcus Solomon, a juror of XD Design based in Taiwan, said: "My overall impression was that in every entry the general standards of either design or innovation were very high, with the best ones excelling in both. The evaluation process was interesting and enjoyable, although towards the end the schedule became quite tight. It was remarkable that among the gold winners the five winning products were so different in terms of design, innovation, and most importantly category. The results were a real surprise."
Award Winners
Out of the 205 products from seven countries that were rated by the judges, 44 received the COMPUTEX d&i award 2012. The first five entries below received a COMPUTEX Gold Award, while those that follow them are award winners selected by the CENS editorial team.
Product: Inhon A11U Ultrabook | Notebook (10172)
Category: Computer + Systems
Company: Inhon Computer Co. Ltd., Taipei/Taiwan
Design: Inhon Computer Co. Ltd., Taipei/Taiwan
The 11.6-inch InBook (A11U) is the first ever Ultrabook that has a full Carbon-fiber chassis. Weighing 0.98 Kg, InBook is also the lightest 11.6-inch Ultrabook in the world. The properties of Carbon-fiber include both extreme stiffness and tensile strength and low weight. Together, these advantages make InBook one of the most durable and stylish Ultrabooks on the market.
Judges' Verdict: The initial impression of the Ultrabook was of minimalism and a balanced mixture of material finish (real carbon fiber), functionality (lightness and strength), and design in terms of simplicity and aesthetics. It's nice to see a product that has more than bells and whistles.
Product: SI-38 | Digital Signage System (101841)
Category: Computer + Systems
Company: IBASE Technology Inc., Taipei/Taiwan
Design: IBASE Technology Inc., Taipei/Taiwan
The SI-38 is an ultra-slim embedded system designed specifically for digital signage applications. It has a fusion processor with discrete class graphics and multiple display outputs. Nevertheless, its 25mm-thick chassis is slender enough to disappear into the tightest spaces behind displays. The system is built around a die-cast aluminum thermal frame that serves simultaneously as the entire system's structural backbone, thermal conduit, airflow divider, HDD rail, EMI shield and mounting bracket. To ensure long-term reliability with a minimum acoustic effect, the cooling airflow is segregated from the electronics to keep contaminants out.
Judges' Verdict: All of the judges were pleased that design attention was paid to this utilitarian and ancillary product. The design team responsible for its creation understood that attention to design would help the company communicate that it cares about its users. The design was quite well executed.
Prize: Gold Award
Product: HTC Portable Speaker | Bluetooth Conference Speaker (102020)
Category: Displays + Digital Audio/Video Products
Company: HTC, Taoyuan County/Taiwan
Design: HTC, Taoyuan County/Taiwan
This speaker has a unique sound box design and combines Bluetooth with HTC Noise Reduction technology. It provides authentic sound, especially for conference calls, and with a set of two, users can enjoy stereo music and have an excellent sound experience.
Judges' Verdict: The HTC Portable Speaker has accomplished what many reputable companies have been unable to do. This extension of the core HTC product line enhances the company's brand image rather than detracts from it. Whereas competing products pursue decreasing cost structures, this speaker features a combination of premium materials, high-end hinging structures and lighting to create a truly exciting user experience. You simply can't wait to 'activate' this cool device by deploying the spring loaded pop-up power key.
Prize: Gold Award
Product: Level 10 M Mouse | PC Gaming Gear (101709)
Category: Peripherals + Accessories
Company: Thermaltake Technology Co., Ltd, Taipei City/Taiwan
Design: BMW Group DesignworksUSA, Munich/Germany
Judges' Verdict: The seemingly gaming design creates a form and aesthetics that transcend the gaming concept when you view it from the perspective of operation and function. What a surprise!
Prize: Gold Award
Product: Magic Cable Trio | 3-in-1 Charge and Sync Cable (101937)
Category: Peripherals + Accessories
Company: Delta Electronics (Thailand) PCL, Samutprakarn/Thailand
Design: Orcadesign Consultants Pte Ltd., Singapore
Judges' Verdict: This solution deserves a top rating because it responds to user needs for connecting, not in parallel but vertically, with many different types of connectors. The product's simple and compact structure, which would have become complex and bulky if a movable part had been added, merits a high commendation.
Product: Acer CloudMobile | Smartphone (communication) (102004)
Category: 01. Network Communication Products
Company: Acer Inc., Taiwan
Design: Acer Inc., Taiwan
Product: COSMOS II / Chassis (101940)
Category: 02. Components + Parts
Company: Cooler Master Co., Ltd., Taiwan
Design: Cooler Master Co., Ltd., Taiwan
Product: Touch T02 / Ultra Mini USB Flash Drive (101847)
Category: 04. Data Storage Products
Company: Silicon Power Computer & Communications Inc., Taiwan
Design: Silicon Power Computer & Communications Inc., Taiwan
Product: Intelligent Cashier / POS Terminal (101895)
Category: 03. Computer + Systems
Company: AdvanPOS Technology Co., Ltd., Taiwan
Design: AdvanPOS Technology Co., Ltd., Taiwan
Product: Ring Presenter / Wireless Presenter (101922)
Category: 06. Peripherals + Accessories
Company: KYE Systems Corp. (Genius), Taiwan
Design: KYE Systems Corp. (Genius), Taiwan
