Melbourne (Australia) - An economy airline seat has topped this year's Australian International Design Awards, taking out Australia's top design and innovation prize at the gala event in Melbourne on Friday 29 May. Presented by Standards Australia, this Icsid endorsed awards scheme recognises and promotes product design and innovation excellence.
 
This year, 154 Australian and internationally-designed entries were submitted with 115 products shortlisted for final round assessment. Judges awarded 30 Australian International Design Awards in recognition of superior design (including the recipient of the Award of the Year) and 43 Australian International Design Marks in recognition of good design.

Amongst this year's 30 Design Awards winners are the Cochlear Hybrid System, DelvTech Soprts-haler asthma puffer, Holden VE sportwagon and Springfree Trampoline.
 
Winners of Design Marks include the Rip Curl H-Bomb wet suit, Allonge GSB Hearse, Energizer e2 Lithium LED flahslight, and Ford FG G series.

Stephanie Watson, Program Director of the Australian International Design Awards said the Qantas A380 Economy Seat exceeded all judging criteria to win the prestigious award.
 
"The Australian International Design Awards, a division of Standards Australia, recognises and rewards product design and innovation excellence. This year, the standard of entry was exceptionally high, with 30 Design Awards presented in recognition of design excellence and 43 Design Marks awarded for good design," she said.

Of the 73 finalists, nominees for the Australian International Design Award were:

• Qantas A380 Economy Seat - designed by Qantas Airways, Marc Newson Ltd, Recaro Aircraft Seating
• BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Synergy - designed by BabyBjörn AB and Ergonomidesign
• Cochlear™ Hybrid™ System - designed by Cochlear
• Izona CookSurface - designed by Fisher & Paykel
• Oticon Dual hearing aid- designed by Oticon A/S
• RØDE Blimp microphone windshield - designed by RØDE Microphones
• Sports-haler asthma puffer designed by DelvTech International

Download the press release with the full list of winners (PDF - 64KB)

2009 Australian International Design Award of the Year
The Qantas A380 Economy Seat, designed by Qantas Airways and Marc Newson Ltd and built by Recaro Aircraft Seating has won the 2009 Australian International Design Award of the Year. To win the top award is to receive the highest accoldate in Australia's design industry.

Judges were particularly impressed with the level of innovation and attention to detail given to all aspects of the seat. The design process clearly considered all features from the materials and aesthetics right through to the revolutionary footrest net, recline space and user interface of the entertainment unit. The environmental aspects of flying were also considered with lightweight carbon fibre selected to help reduce weight.


Above: Electrolux 2008 Refrigeration Collection

2009 Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design
The 2009 Australian International Design Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design was awarded to the Electrolux 2008 Refrigeration Collection - a range of 14 models, all of which use 49% less energy than other 10-year-old models of equivalent capacity.

To acknowledge the increasingly important link between design and the environment, the Australian International Design Awards, in partnership with Sustainability Victoria, the Design Institute of Australia and WSP Environmental, present this award to the finalist product that demonstrates the most environmentally responsible design.
 
John Gertsakis, Senior Sustainability Consultant at WSP Environmental and a judge said the Electrolux Refrigeration Collection was a standout example of a product addressing a range of environmental issues through design.

For more than 50 years, the Australian International Design Awards has rewarded and recognised Australian design excellence and innovation. Now in its second year as an international competition, the program assesses Australian and internationally-designed products available in Australia.

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For media enquiries and interviews, contact:

Australian International Design Awards
Standards Australia
Luisa Bustos
Media Officer
T: 0405 506 457
E:
W: www.designawards.com.au


About the Australian International Design Awards
Standards Australia's Australian International Design Awards recognises the best in industry and student design in Australia and internationally. Professional designers are rewarded through eight industry categories and students are awarded through the Australian Design Award - James Dyson Award, in partnership with Dyson Appliances (Australia).
www.designawards.com.au
http://student.designawards.com.au