A New Way to Catch a Wave
Designer Thomas Meyerhoffer didn’t mind the strange looks and “What the heck is that?” questions he received while testing out his namesake surfboard. “I allowed myself to make an experiment that might not work,” he says. “It’s a good thing as a designer to allow yourself to fail.” But in this case he’s caught the wave of success, quickly gaining attention for a curvy longboard that doesn’t look like anything else in the surfing world.
As Meyerhoffer puts it, his creation is a “shorter board in a longboard,” which means it brings some of the short board’s speed and agility to the longboard. This functional leap forward quickly won over the I.D. jury. “The Meyerhoffer Surfboard design demonstrates a depth of insight that only comes from a practitioner’s understanding, if not obsession, with the sport,” says judge Paul Bradley. “Every aspect of the board’s appearance is tied directly to a performance enhancement."
Project website: www.surfindustries.com/surfboards/modern_meyerhoffer.php
Designer: Thomas Meyerhoffer
Website: www.meyerhoffer.com
8 Photos
“This is one of those designs that are just so obvious that you can’t believe it wasn’t done a long time ago. The designers have taken a universal problem and solved it with function and appearance in perfect harmony.” --Judge Paul Bradley
Project website: www.beaterblade.com
Description: BeaterBlade is an attachment for food mixers that continuously scrapes the bowl while mixing to help create perfect batters without having to stop and scrape the bowl manually.
Designers: Gary Fallowes, William Tan
Website: www.asolid.com (Amalgam Solid)
Client: NewMetro Design, LLC
VP marketing for NewMetro Design: Bob Trinque
5 Photos
“Ingenious die cut and fantastic reuse yielding unexpected colors and engaging pattern placement.” –Judge Laura Guido-Clark
Project website: www.artecnicainc.com/Products#Fall_and_Winter_2009/Stretch_Bag_
Description: Impressed by Artecnica’s pioneering Design W/Conscience program, advertising agency Media Arts Lab/MAL requested that Artecnica recycle their large format billboards exclusively.
Design firm: Artecnica®
Website: Artecnica.com
Design team: Studio Artecnica design team
6 Photos
“Appreciate the resurgence of an age-old craft combined with a modern aesthetic.” –Judge Laura Guido-Clark
Description: Revival designs of handmade, wooden mortar & pestle.
Designer: Tahir Mahmood
Website: www.tahirmahmood.com
8 Photos
“This category is full of statement products. Geneva’s approach is refreshing. Minimalism executed at a level that works. Sound S is a phenomenal supporting actor. It knows its role and plays it well, by not coveting the starring role.” --Judge Paul Bradley
Project website: www.genevalab.com
Description: From the Swiss inventors of high fidelity for iPod comes GenevaSound System Model S, the world's smallest hi-fi. It brings great sound, style and simplicity to the bedroom, kitchen, office and more, with innovative eye-catching new controls and award-winning energy efficiency.
Design: Geneva Lab In-House Design Team
9 Photos
“These hashi mutations live comfortably at the intersection where design, craft and reuse merge. They are at once both familiar and unique. This dichotomy provides a compelling tension.” --Judge Paul Bradley
Production: Hand-made limited edition product, series-no.1
Description: The hashi - collection is a mutation of Western-style antique silverware, fashioned into Asian-style chopsticks, using pairs of same-shape forks salvaged from second hand vintage shops. Each hashi set is electro-plate finished in either nickel silver or black chrome.
Designer: Darren Onyskiw
Studio: d o + soft-geometry
Website: www.soft-geometry.com
Product release date: Design Week Tokyo 2010
Graphic design: Emmanuel Buenviaje
Website design: Noah Heath
2 Photos
“Seamless form, well-appointed materiality, elevated aesthetic.” –Judge Laura Guido-Clark
Description: A compact projector using a mercury-free LED light source packaged in a beautiful brushed aluminum case that measures only 4 inches by 3 inches and weighs less than 1 pound.
Design: HP Notebook Design Team
Website: www.hp.com
Client: HP
1 Photos
“Highly innovative problem solving with a simple pragmatic expression.” –Judge Laura Guido-Clark
Project website: www.klhip.com
Description: The Klhip™ reverses the geometry of the standard nail clipper to achieve a significant ergonomic improvement; Klhip™ is fabricated from 17-4PH stainless steel for lifetime use, and has precise, innovative action, including a “falling rate cam” to make cutting even the thickest nails easy and normal nails effortless. Plus breadboard cutters cause nail clippings to stay onboard instead of flying onto your floor (USA & foreign patents pending).
Designer: Mark S. Farris
Client: Klhip, Inc.
Founder, Klhip, Inc.: Andrew Johnston
6 Photos
“Amazingly pragmatic and simple idea that encourages re-use of materials while inspiring creativity.” –Judge Laura Guido-Clark
Project website: www.makedo.com.au
Description: makedo is a reusable connector system that enables people to construct and create things with found materials. It has three simple parts: a connector, hinge and construction tool.
Designer: Paul Justin
Website:www.pauljustin.com.au
3D modeler: Jake Tankel
10 Photos
“I appreciate the simple intuitive expression paired with the true understanding of process” --Judge Laura Guido-Clark
Description: The Bribri women of Costa Rica pride themselves on sustainable organic cocoa farming, resulting in some of the best ground cocoa patties worldwide. To augment this sustainable ecosystem of growth and use, we created a re-sealable package, logo and product—a complete beverage ecosystem used to break down the hardened patties and brew the hot cacao drink—while making the entire experience and process ceremonial.
Designers: Yves Behar, Serge Beaulieu
Website: www.fuseproject.com
Client: The Nature Conservancy
5 Photos
“This is the first and only iPhone case that enhances the appearance of the phone. So simple to put on and remove. It is lingerie for the iPhone.” --Judge Paul Bradley
Description: Precision-engineered to be our lightest weight case, the Perforated Snap Case adds maximum visual impact in an ultra-minimalist form.
Design: Incase Design Team
Client: Incase
Website: www.goincase.com
3 Photos
Project website: www.ergon-bike.com
Description: Improved ergonomic bike grip with all components made out of sustainable material.
Design team: Ergonomidesign and Ergon
Website: www.ergonomidesign.com
Client: RTI Sports
Development partner: Müller Kunststoff, Biowert industrie
3 Photos
Project website: www.keter.com
Description: Compost mixer makes the composting process easier and faster than ever.
Designers: Tal Shwartz, Eran Messalem
Website: www.d-vision.co.il
Client: Keter
5 Photos
Project website:http://www2.pocsports.com/products/showproduct.asp?category=10-Ski&id=W91019
Description: A free ride helmet with the main focus on ventilation.
Design: POC design team
3 Photos
Project website: www.giannini.it
Description: A complete family of coffee products, designed by Khodi Feiz for the Italian company Giannini, consisting of insulated press-filter coffee makers, milk and sugar set, cups and saucers, serving tray, and the redesign of the historic Giannina stove-top espresso maker (1968).
Designer: Khodi Feiz
Website: www.feizdesign.com
Senior industrial designer: Sebastian Kraus
Senior industrial designer: Mark Lammers
Senior industrial designer: Johan van Hengel
Modelmaker: Sebastian Doermann
Client: Giannini
7 Photos
GROHE Rainshower Collection Submitting Firm Name: Grohe AG Entry Title: GROHE Rainshower Collection Printer(s): Client (Company Name): Grohe AG Entry Category: Consumer Products Project Description: Handshower Collection Project Name (or URL for Interactive website entries): GROHE Rainshower Collection
5 Photos
Project website: www.jabrastone.com
Description: The Jabra STONE is a sleek and elegant Bluetooth headset featuring a ground-breaking shape and design.
Designer: Johan Birger
Website: www.jabra.com
3 Photos
Description: The LovePot humidifier is no bacteria, non-electric, eco-friendly and an aroma releaser. It was designed for the Nanum (Sharing in Korea) project, a charity project that donates all profits to educational scholarships for needy children.
Design: ID+IM design laboratory
Website: http://idim.kaist.ac.kr
Designer: Sangmin Bae
Client: World Vision, GS Caltex
6 Photos
Description: Aquaovo, a water filtration company that allows the health and design conscious to drink the purest water available, launched its signature filtration unit, Ovopur, in the United States in the fall. Based in Montreal, founders Manuel and Noémie Desrochers developed the Ovopur to eliminate waste from bottled water and bring water back into the forefront of the home with the help of beautiful design.
Company: Aquaovo
Founders: Aquaovo is based in Montreal, Canada, and was founded by Manuel and Noémie Desrochers, a brother and sister team.
Team: Manuel Desrochers is the designer and Noémie handles the marketing, visibility and management side.
Website: www.aquaovo.com
PR team: DMD Insight
2 Photos
Project website: www.powermat.com
Description: Powermat is a first-to-market product line that simultaneously delivers real time, wireless charging to multiple electronics including mobile phones, music players, handheld games, electronic readers, GPS devices, Bluetooth headsets, netbooks and laptops.
Design: Smart Design
Website: www.smartdesignworldwide.com
Client: Powermat
6 Photos
Description: NSF Certified locking tongs that can be easily disassembled for cleaning, with three multifunctional edges for cooking, grilling and serving.
Design: PMK Products, The iSi Design Group
Manager: Günter Hermann
Project manager: Bernhard Pavicsits
3 Photos
Project website: www.urbanears.com
Description: The new color in sound.
Designers: Norra Norr, Erik Petersén, Andreas Enquist, Marcus Rudbäck
Website: www.norranorr.com
Creative director: Niklas Berg
Production: Oscar Axhede
Photos: Vincent Skoglund
Client: Zound Industries
6 Photos
Project website: www.waterpebble.com
Description: Waterpebble is a revolutionary device designed to take the effort out of saving water.
Designer: Paul Priestman
Website: www.priestmangoode.com
Client: Self- initiated project
2 Photos
Description: The new Glamour Side by Side Refrigerator from Whirlpool is both elegant and technologically advanced, with color personalization and styling to match the Glamour Glass Oven.
Design: Staff of Global Consumer Design at Whirlpool Corporation
Website: www.whirlpool.com
Client: Whirlpool Corporation
2 Photos
Project website: www.designhousestockholm.com
Description: The Work Lamp is made with a thicker wire, improved angles, and more of a long-lasting appearance. Gold and chrome plating adds character to this ready-made design while the form and readiness preserve its blue-collar roots.
Designer: Form Us With Love
Designer’s website: www.formuswithlove.se
Client: Design House Stockholm
1 Photos
Project website: www.yurbuds.com
Description: First pain-free, custom-fitting earbud enhancers that stay in your ears with unparalleled fidelity.
Design: Metaphase Design Group, Inc.
Website: www.metaphase.com
Client: Yurtopia, LLC
Photography credit: Greg Neumaier Photography
4 Photos
