Good Design Awards: A Round-Up of the Most Beautiful Products
Hot-off-the-press appliance, furniture and lighting innovations recognised for excellence in product design
Joanna Tovia
9 June 2017
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
A 100-per-cent recyclable cot, a pendant light made of upcycled venetian blinds, a washing machine that allows you to open a hatch and add to the load, mid-cycle, and a futuristic ultra-functional iron. Australia’s 2017 Good Design Awards have celebrated the best new products and services on the Australian market since 1958, with categories ranging from digital and communication design to social innovation, furniture and domestic appliance design.
An independent judging panel of 35 Australian and international design experts selected a shortlist of 244 finalists, before announcing the winners on June 8 at a black tie gala night at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal.
Here are some of the shortlisted and winning designs from the furniture, lighting and domestic appliance categories, to keep you abreast of up-to-the-minute product innovations hitting the market.
An independent judging panel of 35 Australian and international design experts selected a shortlist of 244 finalists, before announcing the winners on June 8 at a black tie gala night at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal.
Here are some of the shortlisted and winning designs from the furniture, lighting and domestic appliance categories, to keep you abreast of up-to-the-minute product innovations hitting the market.
WINNER
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Gas Barbecue Range
Two and three-burner die-cast aluminium barbecues with cool-to-touch handles on interchangeable cast-iron flat and grill plates.
Jury’s comments: Beautiful, considered design from every perspective. This is a great example of what professional design can bring to a crowded market segment.
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Gas Barbecue Range
Two and three-burner die-cast aluminium barbecues with cool-to-touch handles on interchangeable cast-iron flat and grill plates.
Jury’s comments: Beautiful, considered design from every perspective. This is a great example of what professional design can bring to a crowded market segment.
FINALIST
Nico Cot
This cot is safe, soft to the touch, and easy to keep clean. It transforms into a toddler bed, and is 100-per-cent recyclable.
Nico Cot
This cot is safe, soft to the touch, and easy to keep clean. It transforms into a toddler bed, and is 100-per-cent recyclable.
Jury’s comments: Excellent quality and solid functionality. This is a very practical and well-resolved product that has been beautifully detailed. It is easy to assemble and provides a safe and comfortable environment for the most precious cargo there is.
WINNER
Eccentric by Rogerseller
A tap mixer designed by Nick Johnston at Rogerseller in partnership with Ram Tapware.
Jury’s comments: This is a beautifully crafted product that surprises and delights. It is clear that the designers were very passionate about creating a truly unique offering in what is a very crowed market.
Eccentric by Rogerseller
A tap mixer designed by Nick Johnston at Rogerseller in partnership with Ram Tapware.
Jury’s comments: This is a beautifully crafted product that surprises and delights. It is clear that the designers were very passionate about creating a truly unique offering in what is a very crowed market.
FINALIST
The Baker Extension Table
A robust form softened by smooth edges and rolling-pin legs, this table is designed to be adaptable to different spaces, the purposes it serves and the people that surround it.
The Baker Extension Table
A robust form softened by smooth edges and rolling-pin legs, this table is designed to be adaptable to different spaces, the purposes it serves and the people that surround it.
Jury’s comments: This is a well-resolved product that ticks all the design boxes. The jury was impressed with the smooth operating mechanism and overall warm and welcoming design aesthetic.
WINNER
Breville BSM600 the Smoking Gun
This tool provides a convenient method for the home chef to enhance meals and cocktails.
Jury’s comments: What a brilliant little product that is a pure joy to use. The Jury commends the Breville Design Team for bringing something new to this market and executing it so well. The use of batteries was an excellent choice for weight and ease of use. The fit, finish and use of materials is spot on.
Breville BSM600 the Smoking Gun
This tool provides a convenient method for the home chef to enhance meals and cocktails.
Jury’s comments: What a brilliant little product that is a pure joy to use. The Jury commends the Breville Design Team for bringing something new to this market and executing it so well. The use of batteries was an excellent choice for weight and ease of use. The fit, finish and use of materials is spot on.
FINALIST
Adrian Lawson Design Recycled Pendant Lighting
This pendant shade range is made from upcycled wooden venetian blinds.
Adrian Lawson Design Recycled Pendant Lighting
This pendant shade range is made from upcycled wooden venetian blinds.
Jury’s comments: Beautiful, considered design from every perspective. This is a great example of upcycled design that has resulted in an elegant and well-resolved product. The jury applauds the innovative use of materials and modularity of the design.
FINALIST
BIBO Water Bar
This device provides instant filtered, purified, chilled and boiling water on tap. It comes in 10 colours, and connects to the mains water supply.
Jury’s comments: An innovative, no-fuss water dispenser that is a joy to use and look at.
BIBO Water Bar
This device provides instant filtered, purified, chilled and boiling water on tap. It comes in 10 colours, and connects to the mains water supply.
Jury’s comments: An innovative, no-fuss water dispenser that is a joy to use and look at.
FINALIST
HOSHI
The HOSHI furniture collection’s character lies in the “subtle articulations and negative space between each compositional element paired with generous materials and textures”.
HOSHI
The HOSHI furniture collection’s character lies in the “subtle articulations and negative space between each compositional element paired with generous materials and textures”.
Jury’s comments: It’s wonderful to see such a cohesive ‘family’ that does not rely on straight repetition but rather has elements that speak to one another. This is a beautifully designed collection that is inviting and honest from every angle.
FINALIST
Avent 4-in-1 Healthy Baby Food Maker
This appliance steams, blends, defrosts and reheats homemade meals. Steam the meal, flip the jar and blend the food.
Jury’s comments: This is a great little product that offers busy parents a healthy alternative to off-the-shelf baby food.
Avent 4-in-1 Healthy Baby Food Maker
This appliance steams, blends, defrosts and reheats homemade meals. Steam the meal, flip the jar and blend the food.
Jury’s comments: This is a great little product that offers busy parents a healthy alternative to off-the-shelf baby food.
FINALIST
D900 S Curve Surface-Mounted LED Downlight
A downlight with a minimalist design and unmatched sustainability benefits.
D900 S Curve Surface-Mounted LED Downlight
A downlight with a minimalist design and unmatched sustainability benefits.
Jury’s comments: Design excellence at its very best. The D900 S Curve LED downlight is a stunning little product from every perspective. It ticks every box for design excellence and offers interior architects and builders unmatched versatility. The jury applauds the simplicity in its design and brilliant sustainability credentials.
FINALIST
Aeron Remastered
Aeron is an office chair, originally designed in 1994 and remastered in 2016 to deliver enhanced comfort while sitting.
Jury’s comments: The original Aeron is a classic design icon admired all over the world for its design innovation and timeless design. The remastered version builds on this proud heritage with an incredibly functional and beautiful design. Every detail has been meticulously refined and considered. It would be difficult to find a better, more comfortable and more beautiful office chair.
Aeron Remastered
Aeron is an office chair, originally designed in 1994 and remastered in 2016 to deliver enhanced comfort while sitting.
Jury’s comments: The original Aeron is a classic design icon admired all over the world for its design innovation and timeless design. The remastered version builds on this proud heritage with an incredibly functional and beautiful design. Every detail has been meticulously refined and considered. It would be difficult to find a better, more comfortable and more beautiful office chair.
FINALIST
Tesla Powerwall 2
Powerwall 2 doubles the energy of Tesla’s first-generation battery. It can power an average two-bedroom home for a full day. Compact, stackable and with a built-in inverter, installation is simple, either indoors or outdoors.
Jury’s comments: Elegant design that wraps up a truly world-class piece of technology. The energy output of the Tesla Powerwall 2 is nothing short of amazing. This product has the potential to disrupt the domestic electricity sector and significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Tesla Powerwall 2
Powerwall 2 doubles the energy of Tesla’s first-generation battery. It can power an average two-bedroom home for a full day. Compact, stackable and with a built-in inverter, installation is simple, either indoors or outdoors.
Jury’s comments: Elegant design that wraps up a truly world-class piece of technology. The energy output of the Tesla Powerwall 2 is nothing short of amazing. This product has the potential to disrupt the domestic electricity sector and significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
FINALIST
Airfryer Viva Collection
Cooks fried food using little to no oil.
Jury’s comments: The jury commends Philips for promoting a healthier way to fry food. The design language and overall form are excellent and very well executed.
Airfryer Viva Collection
Cooks fried food using little to no oil.
Jury’s comments: The jury commends Philips for promoting a healthier way to fry food. The design language and overall form are excellent and very well executed.
FINALIST
Mojo Luxe Bath Ware
The vision for the Mojo Luxe range was to design an elegant, sculptural range of bath ware that would stand the test of time, and yet be functional in day-to-day use.
Mojo Luxe Bath Ware
The vision for the Mojo Luxe range was to design an elegant, sculptural range of bath ware that would stand the test of time, and yet be functional in day-to-day use.
Jury’s comments: Beautiful, considered design. This is a great example of what professional design can bring to a crowded market segment.
FINALIST
Samsung AddWash
AddWash offers the ability to pause a front-loader wash cycle, open a separate hatch and add in additional items or fabric softener.
Jury’s comments: Flawless design. Every detail of this product has been meticulously designed with the end user in mind.
Samsung AddWash
AddWash offers the ability to pause a front-loader wash cycle, open a separate hatch and add in additional items or fabric softener.
Jury’s comments: Flawless design. Every detail of this product has been meticulously designed with the end user in mind.
FINALIST
Converse
‘Micro-modular’ sofa that can be configured individually or in groups.
Converse
‘Micro-modular’ sofa that can be configured individually or in groups.
Jury’s comments: Elegant and simplistic design gives the Converse a unique design language that conveys its function in an unobtrusive and effective manner.
FINALIST
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link Purifier Heater
Heats rooms during winter, cools rooms in summer, purifies the air reports indoor air quality to the Dyson Link app.
Jury’s comments: An excellent product with some clever functions. Every aspect of this product has been carefully considered and designed and it deserves to be recognised at the highest level.
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link Purifier Heater
Heats rooms during winter, cools rooms in summer, purifies the air reports indoor air quality to the Dyson Link app.
Jury’s comments: An excellent product with some clever functions. Every aspect of this product has been carefully considered and designed and it deserves to be recognised at the highest level.
FINALIST
Bork Pump Iron 1780
Combines a pure functional form with professional steam performance and heat accuracy.
Jury’s comments: Stunning design language sets this iron apart from anything on the market. World-class in appearance and excellent execution all round.
Bork Pump Iron 1780
Combines a pure functional form with professional steam performance and heat accuracy.
Jury’s comments: Stunning design language sets this iron apart from anything on the market. World-class in appearance and excellent execution all round.
FINALIST
The Breville Steam Zone
Sets a new benchmark for the steamer category.
Jury’s comments: A standout product that represents design excellence at every level.
Your say
What is your favourite homeware or appliance? We’d love to hear what you think. Join the conversation!
The Breville Steam Zone
Sets a new benchmark for the steamer category.
Jury’s comments: A standout product that represents design excellence at every level.
Your say
What is your favourite homeware or appliance? We’d love to hear what you think. Join the conversation!
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Interested to see the bibo water station, wonder how this would compare to Zip hydrotap etc.
Go the Tesla powerwall 2 - hopefully these will become more and more common
Great read! I must say this is a very useful and inspiring article for improving one's design sense and creativity. Be inspired as well by this website https://a2designlab.com/, check their team environment and strategy and how they pulled off good product designs.