IDEA Awards 2010

The 2010 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) were awarded recently at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. While most of the awards went to non-Scandinavian designers, we wanted to make special note of the two Scandinavian winners (and then point out one really great design from a non-Scandinavian designer).

If you’re not familiar with the IDEA Awards, let me give you a little background…

Each year, thousands of designers submit pieces to be judged. The designs are judged based on innovation, benefit to the user, benefit to society and natural ecology, benefit to the client, visual appeal and aesthetics, usability testing (i.e. function and reliability) and implementation.

This year, there were 1,900 entrants from designers representing 28 different countries. While most of the pieces submitted were impressive, only 38 would become a “gold-medal winner.”

Here are three great pieces that caught our eye…

Skybar(TM) Wine Chill Drops

Category: Home Living

Design: Tools Design

Country: Denmark

Medal: Bronze

Credits: Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbaek of Tools Design (Denmark)

This ingenious device was created to chill a single glass of wine. The “drops” are coolant-filled and immersed into the glass of wine.

In keeping with Scandinavian Design, they are sleek, modern and have a great visual appeal. As for function, they can chill a glass of wine up to 20 times faster than using a refrigerator.

CAS Air System

Category: Student Designs

Design: Umeå Institute of Design

Country: Sweden

Medal: Gold

Credits: Malin Grummas of Umeå Institute of Design (Sweden)

The CAS Air System was designed for firefighters or any first-responder that must enter a smoke-filled area.

Research shows that firefighters face much greater risk for many types of cancer, including testicular and prostate cancer as a result of being exposed to high levels of smoke. They also have a higher risk of having children with medical issues such as congenital heart disease.

Of course, these risks increase when they do not use some sort of self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The CAS Air System is more efficient than a filter mask and allows for easier breathing.

The transparent window and voice amplifier is designed to improve communication. To enhance safety, a tube with compressed air will automatically “kick-in” if the carbon monoxide level suddenly increases. The system also warns the user of this event with a signal.

This next piece doesn’t come from a Scandinavian designer but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. In form, it reminds us of some of the designs by Louise Campbell, Muuto or Sagaform but the function is truly the key.

Who would have thought we’d be so impressed with a device designed to trap mice/rats? The fact that the designer could create such a product… one that is beautiful to look at, efficient and humane/eco-friendly just goes to show what is possible when all three attributes are given their due during the design process.

ONEDOWN

Category: Service Design

Design: DSK ISD International School of Design

Country: India

Medal: Gold

Credits: Aakash Dewan of DSK ISD International School of Design (India)

The designers call ONEDOWN a humane rat trap. Basically, some “yummy” bait is placed inside the form which is rested on its side.

When the mouse/rat enters to get the treat, the weight of the rodent (coupled with the weight of a metal insert) tips the form upright and traps the rodent unharmed.

The rodent can then be released instead of being killed.