Every year International Forum selects a number of manufacturer’s products for design and this year Sony scored 9 awards, out of which I am a proud owner of 3 – Bravia ZX1, Cybershot TX1 and VAIO X. If you never heard of iF, here is a little history about it:
Since their introduction in the year 1953, the International Forum (iF) design awards have been a reliable indicator of outstanding quality in design. The iF logo, awarded by international experts, is trusted the world over and denotes proven design quality. 1,016 companies from 39 different nations competed for an iF product design award 2010, submitting a total of 2,486 products for adjudication by an international panel of experts. 778 products merited an iF product design award 2010, with 50 of them also selected to receive an iF gold award.
iF Gold Awards
BRAVIA ZX1 Series, ‘Ultra-thin LCD television
Owing to the extruded aluminum frame, which doubles as both chassis and housing, the ZX1 is the world’s lightest 40V-format LCD TV at 12.2 kg. By thinning the edges to an acute angle (9.9mm at its thinnest point) the designer has created an exquisitely light look suggestive of a piece of paper floating in mid-air. Its wireless functionality provides flexibility when placing the TV in any interior.
The product’s minimalist design has been perfected to minute detail: sleek back panel, discretely hidden wires and connectors, and the arm of the stand. This is a truly inspiring design evocative of new lifestyles built around the TV.
Cyber-shot DSC-TX1, Digital still camera
While maintaining the slimness of previous models, the DSC-TX1 achieves improved image quality and a movie recording function. Continuing the T series’ characteristic aluminum lens cover and stainless steel body, the model now features improved contour tapering on both ends, and a sleek front surface that curves up toward the lens, adding softness and appeal to the previous model’s thin, solid body. Available in five colors, the lens cover features a lustrous finish to beautifully enhance its distinctive smooth curved surface. The gold model in particular offers a metallic polish that shimmers along the curved surface.
iF Product Awards
X Series VAIO notebook PC
P Series VAIO mini notebook PC
CMT-DH70SWR / DH50R Micro Audio System
BDV-Z7 Blu-ray Disc Home Theatre System
HDR-CX520/CX505/CX500 Series Handycam camcorder
HDR-CX120/CX100/CX105E/CX106E Series Handycam camcorder
PCM-M10 Linear PCM Recorder
Winning products embraced all areas within Sony’s expertise including the HDR-CX520V Handycam camcorder, X Series VAIO notebook PC and PCM-M10 Linear PCM Recorder. Moreover, out of nearly 2,500 entries only 50 are given the coveted gold award for outstanding design. Highlighting the innovation and unique core of Sony’s design, the ZX1 Series BRAVIA television and DSC-TX1 Cyber-shot digital still camera were both awarded this year’s gold awards at today’s iF Design ceremony held at the CeBIT trade fair in Hanover, Germany.
Receiving the award on behalf of Sony Design, Tak Kawagoi, director, Design Centre Europe commented, “These iF Design Awards for our product design shows the innovation levels and ingenuity of our design teams across many product categories. Our designers always strive towards our corporate philosophy to ‘do what has never been done before’ and gold awards for the BRAVIA ZX1 TV and Cyber-shot TX1 digital still camera demonstrate the boundaries we are pushing for the integration of technology and lifestyle design.”
Sony product designers consider many elements when creating new products, from the edges of the materials, to the user-interface to the colours and finishes. Speaking of the choice in designing the colours for the gold award winning DSC-TX1 Cyber-shot digital still camera, the designer commented, “The colours and textures you see on the DSC-TX1 enhance the beautiful curves of the camera body. That’s why the body is matte and the lens cover has a satin finish, for example. The surfaces gleam like jewelry and were designed with parties and glamorous events in mind.”
iF judges praised the winning gold award products, saying, “The Cyber-shot digital camera is extremely thin and delivers to the user not only pure photo-taking enjoyment with its minimally designed exterior, but also – thanks to the wide range of available colors – it is like a little piece of jewelery that you can wear and have fun with.” The BRAVIA ZX1 series TV was honored for its minimalistic appeal, “this flatscreen TV really does justice to its name. It is not only amazingly light, but it’s design is as minimalist as possible. Along with the sleek housing, the rear panel is a delight with all its cables and connectors hidden tidily away.”
Sony will be exhibiting at this year’s Milano Salone Internationale del Mobile, showcasing its future design vision at what is the most creative, lifestyle-oriented platform in the world. Kawagoi added, “The Milan exhibition will be a demonstration of the strength of our creative energy, so this timely recognition from International Forum Design perfectly represents the importance we bestow on our design and how forward-thinking we intend our designs to be.”
