Wednesday, July 30, 2008

IDEA 2008 Award Winners


The Eton Field Radios (FRs) series comprises two consumer field radios for use outdoors and in the home. They are particularly suited for emergency use, when access to information, communication and product reliability are critical. The FRs feature NOAA weather channels, AM/FM and worldwide multiband channels. They also include a two-way walkie talkie and a cell phone charger so one can stay in touch even when the power is out. The FRs also include a flashlight, siren and an SOS light beacon. Each is powered by hand-crank dynamos and solar panels.


The O2 Cocoon features simple yet extremely sophisticated versions of the common mobile phone. In creating the O2 Cocoon, a completely new design identity was constructed: a seamless clamshell design that is clean and tactile on the outside and technologically advanced on the inside. The driving force behind the design was the belief that the world was not waiting for another static tech gadget; instead consumers are demanding a mobile phone that is “experience focused.”


The MacBook Air is a full-size 3 pound notebook encased in sleek, sturdy anodized aluminum. The 13.3-inch, widescreen LED backlit display is mercury- and arsenic-free. The keyboard is full-size and has backlit key illumination with a built-in ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts keyboard and display brightness for optimal visibility. MacBook Air also includes a built-in iSight camera and an oversized trackpad with multi-touch technology. The port hatch flips down to reveal (and closes to hide) a USB 2.0 port, headphone jack and a micro-DVI port. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor was custom-built to fit within the compact dimensions.


TuneStudio is a compact four-channel mixer for the iPod. The player is completely integrated into the mixer’s design, which allows natural interaction with the player’s screen and user interface and makes it possible to create CD-quality stereo recordings directly on the iPod’s hard drive. Recordings are immediately playable from the iPod’s music library. Experienced and novice users alike can create professional sounding, multi-channel digital audio for podcasts, music or video soundtracks. When connected to a computer via USB, TuneStudio extends the ability of computer-based music recording and editing software to work with analog instruments and microphones.

The Mobility Vision Integration Process (mVIP) investigates ways that expert designers can support and accelerate dialog about the future of sustainable mobility. These mVIP cards are an experimental tool that supports rapid future scenario development on the topic of sustainable mobility so that groups and individuals can quickly enter a dialog and brainstorm about possible outcomes, solutions and strategies. The deck contains 109 cards in 11 categories and is also available as an online brainstorming tool


Daan, which means “unit” or “column” in Korean, is an air purifier for home use. A single unit covers around 15m², about the size of a small room. Users can improve the performance to cover an area up to 30m² and 45m² by stacking the product. The product separates into three units that can be easily carried between rooms and slipped onto independent stands. Fabric and aluminum give the Daan a pleasing appearance that allows it to fit into the interior décor of any living space. A mood lighting function that creates a soft atmosphere further enhances its decorative aspects.


Achilles Heel is a table inspired by today’s culture of maximalism, which is fueled by the ideal of acquiring more and more. Achilles Heel challenges this notion, playing to the idea of fragility. The design explores its theme through creating unique spaces within the table that are waiting to be discovered and explored.


The KneelChair is an innovative new approach to paraplegic mobility. The chair places users in a kneeling position, which lengthens the torso, ensures that the internal organs are not compressed and maximizes blood flow. The use of bicycle gears coupled with levers reduces the effort required to power the wheels, allowing a shorter, more ergonomic motion and maximizing the power output of each stroke. The ergonomics are also improved with breathable mesh seating surfaces for increased airflow and cushioning. The seat height is adjustable, making it easier to transfer in and out of the chair.

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