Taiwan Takes 5 “Best of the Best” Red Dot Design Awards in 2008

Taiwan once again tells the world that the island is no longer merely home to extensive subcontract manufacturing headquarters and factories, but is gradually remaking itself into a concern where a proportionally greater share of the industrial output is generated by brain work than brawn, which would enhance added-value of products and hence margins. Such effort is apparently paying off: Taiwan-based designers have won five of the total 50 "Best of the Best" prizes at the Red Dot Design Competition of Germany for 2008. To be on the winner's podium five times for Taiwan-based designers is truly an honor, especially considering that the Red Dot competition is steeped in history and organized in a country long known for no-nonsense approach to industrial design and world-standard-bearing icons as BMW, Porsche, Audi, Leica and Zeiss.

The winners list for the 2008 Red Dot product design competition was recently unveiled. The organizers was flooded for its 2008 version by 3,200 product entries submitted by 1,253 companies from 51 countries, which were judged along a series of criteria by experts in Essen, Germany.

A total of 50 products received the "Red Dot" signifying their being the "Best of the Best" for outstanding and innovative design, while another 676 have been given the "Red Dot" quality seal for noteworthy design quality. The winners will be honored at the presentation attended by more than 1,000 guests on June 23, 2008 in the Essen Opera House of the Aalto Theatre.

Having been awarded since 1955, the design prize was given a new, more distinctive face and name in 1992: Under the aegis of Peter Zec, the design contest was revamped with the "Red Dot," taken from the Design Zentrum's signet created by Otl Aicher. And for international recognition, Kurt Weidemann, the doyen of German communication design, restyled the Red Dot symbol in 1994. Ever since, the Red Dot has been known as the global product and communication design competition drawing the best work from international designers of the highest caliber.

Today, the Red Dot design award cites both outstanding work in product and communication fields, with the annual presentation ceremonies becoming also an event with entertainment on the program, which attracts not only the winners but also personalities from various arenas as sports and politics.

Many businesses worldwide are relying on using the Red Dot winner status as a globally-recognized stamp of superior quality.

Five "Best" From Taiwan

Submitted by: Lei Yueh Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Product: LED Glass Brick

Award: Red Dot Best-of-the-Best 2008

Hardly new is a glass brick, but this LED Glass Brick takes semi-transparent wall partition unit to an illuminating level, literally. Integrated with 30 sets of RGB color changing LEDs, the brick comes complete with transformer and a multi-function controller. The company site does not claim the brick to be structural but only a lighting accessory; however one expects that the LED brick flicks a brand-new switch on interior mood lighting, for home, office, shop and just about anywhere imaginative lighting fits in.

Designed to be installed individually, in small patches, or even set up as entire walls, the LED Glass Brick would be the ultimate in colorful lighting statement, ideal for a recreation room, a centerpiece for any pub, diner, lounge or disco. Its color-changing capability makes the glass brick unrivaled for amusement quotient, while the brick format absolutely enhances the overall value of the product in practicality and durability.

Submitted by: Piao I Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Product: Travel Buddy

Award: Red Dot Best-of-the-Best 2008

The best combination for people on-the-go who wish easy beverage-making and enjoyment, the Travel Buddy is both a mug and maker of coffee and tea. One of its most practical features is the paperless strainer, the Travel Buddy enables users to filter coffee grounds and tea without needing a paper filter. Such convenient feature allows users to make any kind of health-enhancing beverage quickly and without hassle. Its patented air pressure relief lid lets out built-up pressure automatically to prevent rupture; while its 100% polycarbonate body is literally shatterproof, making for daily use a breeze, and it also withstands heat up to 137 degrees Celsius, so making both hot and cold drinks are not a problem.

Submitted by: Duck Image

Product: AS-001 Portable Air-cushioned Infant Scale

Award: Red Dot Best-of-the-Best 2008

Absolutely ingenious in design, this highly portable air-cushioned infant scale combines several practical advantages. Simply let its air out to completely roll into the size of an umbrella for easy storage and portability. Push a button to activate its power pump to inflate the scale, which becomes a soft and safe air cushion for the infant while being weighed. Then push another button to let the air out. Integrated with a pressure-differential sensor, the air-cushion scale detects the added air pressure from the infant's weight, with the pressure sensor transforming the pressure change into an electrical signal that is calculated into weight via an algorithmic program.

Submitted by: Duck Image

Product: BS-002 Miniature Infant Scale

Award: Red Dot Best-of-the-Best 2008

Similar in principle to the air-cushioned infant scale above, this Miniature Infant Scale is literally palm-sized when deflated and folded. Instead of being an air cushion, this one takes after the bubble pack, with many tiny air pockets acting as the cushion. Just push the power button to inflate the scale automatically, which turns into a soft pad of air-pocketed cushion while an infant is being weighed. Another push of a button will let out the air for easy storage and portability. Integrated with a pressure-differential sensor, the air-cushion scale detects the added air pressure from the infant's weight, with the pressure sensor transforming the pressure change into an electrical signal that is calculated into weight via an algorithmic program.

Submitted by: Nova Design Co., Ltd.

Product: TATUNG Tricom Conference System

Award: Red Dot Best-of-the-Best 2008

An upgraded and artistic rendition of the teleconferencing phone, the Tatung Tricom Conference System offers efficient and convenient usability to enhance multi-party communication. Futuristic in design and practicality, it features invisible lighting interface and control panel that are only visible when in use. Although distinctively corporate for its triangular form with matte finish, this teleconferencing phone would also suit just about any setting that calls for group communication. Not merely coincidental, the triangular form has integrated one-dimensional microphone in each facet to ensure excellent vocal reception from any angle, with a top-mounted microphone switch for easy access and operation. Users simply touch a button to automatically open the slide over the dial panel, which closes automatically afterward.