Dec 16, 2013
Design Plus Award Bridges the Gap Between Function and Emotion

Functionality meets perfect design: the Design Plus Award 2014 goes to 24 companies from eleven countries. The 30 award-winning products and product series will be on show in a special exhibition at Ambiente, the leading international trade-fair for the consumer-goods sector in Frankfurt am Main from 7 to 11 February 2014.

“The entries for the 2014 Design Plus competition reflect not only the high standard of design prevailing today but also the trend towards projecting familiar, everyday products into a contemporary context and, in many cases, fully reconsidering them. In this creative process, functions are improved and some astonishing value added produced. The expert jury took particular account of this in 2014”, explains Nicolette Naumann, Vice President Ambiente/Tendence.

An example of the reinterpretation of a traditional device is the new ‘Nutcracker’ by Normann Copenhagen. The design of German design studio Ding3000 improves the action and catches the eye with its special silhouette. The silicon saucepan lids by Zwiesel Kristallglas are stylish and practical. Designer Bernadette King has achieved a practical additional benefit by utilizing the heat of the food being cooked for a preserving vacuum effect. Hence, it can be kept longer. Fully developed technology is offered by the ‘bionic’ series of knives by Fissler designed by Prof. Thomas Gerlach, via4 Design. The inspiration for his patented method comes from nature or, to be more exact, the beaver’s tooth principle, with the aid of which the hand-crafted knives sharpen themselves. And that necessities can be attractive is demonstrated by Konstantin Slawinski: ‘Fire’ is a fire-extinguisher holder and first-aid box in one that, thanks to its light colour and minimalist design, fits into every architectural setting. It was developed by Cologne-based studio ‘Formfusion’.

Emotional values

In addition to functionality, aesthetics and sustainability, emotional values are becoming increasingly important for product design, as shown, for example, by the picture frames of Side by Side, a company that uses charity workshops to make its products. Designer Vera von Laufenberg (Studio Feine Kleinwaren) has created picture frames that are easy to make and exercise a powerful appeal through their simplicity. The ‘Eco Meal Sets’ by London’s Whitbread Wilkinson studio are not only ecologically valuable. Made of biopolymers, the set of dishes is a delight for children thanks to the bright colours and striking characters. A mixture of benefits and playfulness distinguishes ‘Zig-Zag’ of the Stelton / RIG-TIG brand. The multi-layer table mat made of silicon and nylon can be twisted into any shape required. Hence, it is suitable for saucepans of all sizes and represents an irresistible temptation to create more new shapes.

Exhibition in Galleria 1

The Design Plus Award has been reflecting the status quo of design for 31 years. At the same time, the label stands for high standards of design quality, utility value and sustainability. The Design Plus Award goes to products that are innovative in terms of idea and execution or distinguished by new concepts. The 30 award-winning products are exhibited in a popular special show, which will be located in Galleria 1 during Ambiente 2014. This year’s exhibition is the work of Leise design studio, Frankfurt, which has already won several international awards. The exhibition concept is based on the use of sustainable materials with cardboard and paper being the main products employed.

Design Plus 2014 at a glance

The companies selected for a Design Plus award in 2014 are Alessi, Blomus, Browne & Co., Chilewich, Fissler, Hailo, Kai Corporation, Konstantin Slawinski Housewarming Objects, Lindén International, Normann Copenhagen, Oxo International, Palomar, Pension für Produkte, RCR Cristalleria Italiana, Reisenthel Accessoires, Royal VKB, side by side Caritas Wendelstein Werkstätten, Skagerak, Spring International, Stelton, Steuber, Thomas Merlo & Partner, Whitbread Wilkinson and Zwiesel Kristallglas.

The members of the jury were Mark Braun (designer), Volker Hohmann (Ikarus Design Handel), Hugo Macdonald (Studioilse), Hubert Kittel (Burg Giebichenstein / Kunsthochschule Halle), Stefan Nilsson (Trendgruppen), Philipp Mainzer (E15) and the sponsors represented by Andrej Kupetz (German Design Council) and Julia Droege (Frankfurt am Main Chamber of Industry and Commerce).

Ambiente, the leading international trade fair

Ambiente is the leading international trade fair for products for the table, kitchen, household, giving and decorating, as well as for home and furnishing accessories. Ambiente is an event distinguished by superlatives and unrivalled worldwide thanks to its unique horizontal and vertical range of products. For five days at the beginning of the business year, 2013, more than 4,700 exhibitors showed their new products and innovations for the coming season. With 140,000 trade buyers from over 140 countries in 2013, the world’s leading consumer-goods fair also offers a wide variety of events, promotional programmes for young people, trend presentations and awards ceremonies.

Note for journalists:

You will find further information about Ambiente and high-resolution photographs on the internet at www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/journalists.

Follow Ambiente on Twitter with hashtag #Ambiente14: www.twitter.com/ambiente

Background information on Messe Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading trade fair organiser, with 536.9 million euros in sales and 1,833 employees. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries and approx. 50 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2012, Messe Frankfurt organised 109 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.

Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Centre. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.

For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com




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