Taiwan Wins Incredible 48 Prizes at 2009 iF Product Design Award

The coveted 2009 iF Product Design Award saw 2,808 entries from 39 countries enter the competition, 802 of which were cited for excellent design, with a remarkably high 48 winners (items) coming from Taiwan as well as 12 from Hong Kong and mainland China, according to the Hanover-based organizer iF International Forum Design's Taiwan branch.

The jury deliberated from November 18-20, 2008 at the exhibition grounds in Hanover and found that "innovations exist and are materializing in design."

"This year we were once again pleased with the keen response throughout the world to the iF product design award. Not only were there a great number of entries but also the diversity within the individual categories increased," points out Ralph Wiegmann, iF Managing Director. "Technical innovations came to us from different countries all over the world, guaranteeing quality and a broad range of competition."

Qisda Corp. of Taiwan, the former manufacturing division of BenQ, is the biggest winner in the 2009 version of the so-called "Design Oscar" by claiming five prizes. The firm is no stranger to global design contests as it also won in 2008 five prizes at the red dot design award of Germany and four at the G-Mark of Japan.

Likely the longest running product design award, held since 1953, the 2009 iF included for the first time 16 categories that were judged: 1. Transportation Design, 2. Leisure/Lifestyle, 3. Audio/Video, 4. Telecommunications, 5. Computers, 6. Office/Business, 7. Lighting, 8. Furniture/Home Textiles, 9. Kitchen/Household, 10. Bathroom/Wellness, 11. Buildings, 12. Public Design/Interior Design, 13. Medicine/Healthcare, 14. Industry/Skilled Trades, 15. Special Vehicles/Construction/Agriculture, 16. Advanced Studies.

The highlight of iF, the ceremony announcing the winners of the 50 "gold awards," will take place March 3, 2009, the opening day of CeBIT computer show in Hanover, Germany. The date also coincides with the release of the iF product yearbook 2009, with all the winning products to be displayed at the same show grounds in Hanover.

The editorial team of the DIT (Design & Innovation in Taiwan) magazine profiles in the following a select sampling of the 48 winning products from Taiwan, focusing on entries outside the information and communication technology (ICT) sector for the island is already a globally-renowned ICT production base.

LED Glass Brick

Category: 7. Light

Company: Lei Yueh Enterprise Co., Ltd.

The LED Glass Brick enhances the standard glass wall or partition building unit with light, color and texture, aiming to integrate lighting features that suit all users, as well as taking lit glass-brick building a step closer to customization.

Supernova Pump

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: airbone

Just 9.9 cm long, weighing only 59g and rated at over 100 psi/7 bar, this innovative Supernova Pump is an extremely small and compact air pump. Besides being available in several metallic colors, the key features of this high-performance and easy-to-use pump are the new operating method and effort-saving characteristics.

Mio Leap K1

Category: 4. Telecommunication

Company: Mitac International Corp.

The Mio Leap K1 is an all-in-one GPS device with mobile phone functions. It is the first dual-sided GPS phone on the market. One side is a basic feature phone and the other a flat touch-panel GPS, which can be used for car or pedestrian navigation.

P81

Category: 4. Telecommunication

Company: NeWeb Corporation

P81 is a GSM/PHS Dual Mode phone with 2.8-inch touch screed and real-time broadcast TV. It's a TV while horizontal and a cell-phone when vertical. The design of the embedded phone antenna reduces clutter but ensures good signal quality. Like a mini theater, P81 totally redefines the traditional cell phone.

QHM-21

Category: 5. Computer

Company: Qisda Corporation

The QHM-21 is a portable HSDPA USB MODEM. When plugging into a USB port of a PC (Notebook), the QHM-21, with a built-in SIM card, allows users to access the Iternet with 3G telecom network. The ladybug-inspired antenna swings open or retract like the insect's wings, with one touch on the button activating the wireless connection.

Deodr

Category: 16. Advanced Studies

Company: Chung-shan Institute of Science &Technology Armament Bureau, MND, Taiwan

Offering a convenient way to freshen up clothes without washing them, Deodr combines the effects of a photocatalyst light tube and fan-induced convection to remove unpleasant smells from clothes and make them smell fresh. Avoiding the use of water and laundry detergent has benefits for the environment as well as the clothes. This freshening process is much more gentle on fabrics than washing.

PocketCinema V10

Category: 3. Audio/Video

Company: AIPTEK International Inc.

The PocketCinema V10 pocket media-player projector holds a cinema in your pocket. The world's first pocket-sized media player projects up to a 50-inch screen on a flat surface, with the display content coming from its 1GB internal memory, the SD/MMC/MS card, or your cell phone, iPod, Wii and AIPTEK's camcorder via the 3-in-1 AV jack.

DCS-3415

Category: 11. Buildings

Company: D-Link Corporation

The DCS-3415 network camera is ideal for high-end surveillance and security applications. The progressive scan sensor and 18x optical zoom lens captures vivid images in MPEG-4 format. The built-in auto-iris feature and a removable IR filter make this camera suitable for 24-hour surveillance.

3-In-1 Hedgelopper

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: Greenlawn Garden Product Co.

The convenient multi-purpose shear allows users to do three different jobs; while its lightweight telescopic handle can be adjusted to maximize leverage for enhanced cutting efficiency, which also minimizes the storage space needed.

SpinQ

Category: 5. Computer

Company: Thermaltake Technology Co., Ltd.

The SpinQ fan is both attractive and a superb performer. The unprecedented spiral-fin design sets standards in aesthetics. Its 8 cm VR fan with blue LED light not only cools via air convection within a chassis, but also allows users to adjust the fan speed according to needs.

Soya-milk Maker

Category: 9. Kitchen/Household

Company: Hang Zhou Onondo Appliances Inc. by Joyoung

This innovative soya-milk maker has been designed for a China-based brand called Onondo, and was inspired by the architecture of Romanesque and Gothic castles.

Dino-Lite

Category: 14. Industry/Skilled Trades

Company: AnMo Electronics Corp.

The innovative Dino-Lite series of handheld digital microscopes, developed by AnMo Electronics, is revolutionizing the world of microscopy and digital-image capturing with its patented technologies and stylish ergonomic design. Dino-Lite's versatility and portability lend themselves to a wide range of practical applications in educational, industrial, medical and many other fields.

Compose

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: Lite-On Technology Corp.

"Compose" further enhances the efficiency of musical composition by allowing a composer to sing into its electronic pen, which is then inserted into the music book to immediately display the musical notations.

KeruKeru Spice Doll

Category: 9. Kitchen/Household

Company: GazinCreate Co., Ltd.

The KeruKeru Spice Doll is a creative way to allow cooks to accurately measure liquid sauce put in foods being prepared, with a large measuring spoon at the bottle opening to easily show how much sauce to use for a meal.

QLD-202 Ceiling Light

Category: 7. Light

Company: Qisda Corporation

The QLD-202 is a two-in-one ceiling LED light designed for sophisticated users. The white suspended light is constructed of a metal frame, with its sleek form consisting of two sides: the upper emits ambient lighting and the other side offering focused light for reading and other tasks.

SS-08-K1 Key Ring

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: Shibasaki Schumann & Co., Ltd.

An ingeniously designed key ring, the SS-08-K1 consists of a key ring like body with a special tiny gap that allows users to easily add and remove keys. The smart design looks deceptively insecure-with keys that seem likely to come off accidentally-but is in fact solid.

MODE

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: Pacific Cycles, Inc.

The clean, striking MODE urban folding bicycle targets commuters who may not consider cycling or folding bikes as an option for the usual shortcomings. MODE avoids oily chains, fussy metal structures with hidden dirt traps and traditional clutter-creating a tidy cycling solution for commuters who do not want to look like "bicycle warriors."

AURORA C1

Category: 11. Buildings

Organization: Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan

Overcoming blackout as a problem during sprinkler usage, the Aurora C1 a ceiling sprinkler with fluid-driven lighting, which is installed on the front-end of the sprinkler or the back-end of the outlet. The centrifugal or axial-flow turbine is driven by the flowing water in the sprinkler to generate electricity, which powers the lighting system without needing battery, electrical wiring and solar energy.

Safe Link

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: KMC Chain Industrial Co., Ltd.

The Safe Link locks and unlocks a bicycle chain link with tools, enabling riders to enjoy great convenience, user-friendliness in chain maintenance and replacement. Simply turn the Safe Link 90-degrees towards a chain to lock or unlock a link.

Cruiser

Category: 14. Industry/Skilled Trades

Company: Nusharp Inc.

The Cruiser stripping knife set has the universal "P-ring jaw" design that offers great hand protection and protects the knife edge. Depending on the cutting depth, the universal design of the draw-back guide pad the tip of the "P-ring jaw," which can be drawn back automatically to achieve precise and efficient result.

Tone Saver

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: Hong Bo Technologies, Ltd.

The Tone Saver, made of high modulus carbon fiber, offers vacuum, waterproof storage for flutes, with the negative pressure within keeping constant temperature and humidity. The ideal companion for image-conscious flautists.

Open Stretch Glove

Category: 2. Leisure/Lifestyle

Company: Taiwan Kurim Enterprises Co., Ltd.

The Open Stretch Glove features innovative design to differ from conventional gloves, making wearing quick and easy. The unique polymer-based PU fabric is breathable, and saves tailoring and sewing, and increases elasticity. These features also help to achieve excellent anti-abrasion and shock absorption.

DH-01 Future Steering Wheel

Category: 16. Advanced Studies

Company: Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan

Showing the future of steering wheels, the DH-01 consists of three new technologies: rear-projection interactive interface, resistance-pressure-sensitive touch panel, and digital directional horn. The technologies allow drivers to better control incoming information and environment; while the revolutionary horn enables a driver to aim towards a specific direction and distance without disturbing other passengers or vehicles.

AURORA H1000

Category: 16. Advanced Studies

Company: Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan

Designed to overcome the problem of blackouts during firefighting, the Aurora H1000 fire hydrant has an integrated turbine that is turned with the water-flow inside a fire hose, whose action generates electricity to power lighting.