International Design Award Baden-Württemberg 2006
For the sixth time, the Design Center Stuttgart called for entries for the Baden-Württemberg International Design Award, which again focused on a special topic. For designers and businesspersons alike, the competition’s unique character is a special challenge, and for this year’s topic – energy – the standard for assessing products was particularly high.
Impressions – award ceremony and opening of the exhibition in October 2006
Businesspersons and designers submitted a total of 328 products to compete for Focus Energy. The products were grouped into 12 categories for the critical assessment of the panel of judges. The six judges selected a total of 84 award-winners. Seventy-five products were awarded the “Focus in Silver” for excellent design work. The supreme “Focus in Gold” award went to a further nine products.
Apart from the usual assessment criteria such as design quality, innovative content, ergonomics, ecological aspects and other features, the energy topic played a crucial role. This year’s competition was looking for products that set striking accents in the market – “strong”, energetic products whose handling made them a joy to use. But the products also had to satisfy energy issues in the classic sense of technology and physical properties. This related to the various stages of the product cycle, starting with the selection of materials, via power consumption during use, to end-of-life disposal. The award-winners selected clearly reflect these high standards.
In 2006, all the products entered were assessed in a two-day judging session by the following experts:
- Christoph Böninger, brain4design, D
- Ed Annink, Ontwerpwerk, NL
- Henning Horn, Design Center Stuttgart, D
- Dr. Rita Pohle, Design & Consulting, D
- Frederick Rickmann, Design/Nord, DK
- Ursula Tischner, econcept, D
“Focus in Gold”:
Small wind turbine “Conergy SWT 6000 AC”
Conergy AG
D-20537 Hamburg
www.conergy.de
info@conergy.de Design
Werksdesign
Sven Dähne
Peer Stock
Martin Dorsch
This wind turbine, with a power output of 6 or 7.5 kW, is intended as a stand-alone generator to provide electricity in remote areas – farmers, small businesses, houses a long way from the grid – or, for instance, in developing countries, for village electrification, industrial applications or telecommunications.
However, it can also be connected to the grid and feed power into it. It is also eco-friendly, helping to limit depletion of resources. The lightweight design is a further step in the same direction, reducing costs and permanently facilitating production, transport, servicing and installation. Thanks to the winch, the turbine can be easily and quickly set up by three people in just one day, on either a concrete or a steel foundation.
Unlike conventional wind turbines, this unit withstands even the most violent storms. In high winds, the patented passive pitch control turns the rotor blades out of the wind, thus ensuring that the turbine remains stable up to a wind velocity of 250 km/h.
The result is a very robust and reliable system built with low consumption of materials. The wind turbine is a high-yield system: depending on the location, it produces between 5 000 and 12 000 kWh of electricity a year.
Jury / Judges panel
Novel wind turbine, makes wind energy available in regions remote from the grid. Is not space-hungry, nor are any complex approval procedures necessary, as it is relatively small and light. Also interesting that it can adapt to storm winds by turning its rotor blades, so that it can also generate energy at high wind velocities.
Drilling dust collector “DDC 50″
Production, assembly, distribution
Manufacturer
D-71364 Winnenden
www.kaercher.de
info@kaercher.de
Design
Werksdesign
Michael Meyer
The drilling dust collector makes dust-free drilling possible. Thanks to this collector, there is no need for an assistant to remove the fine drilling dust from the wall with a vacuum cleaner – often a difficult task.
With its patented vacuum suction function the DDC 50 adheres to the wall automatically, intercepting the dust during drilling. There is no need to clean up afterwards and the user has both hands free. It can be used with any power drill.
The drilling dust collector consists of an aperture for the drill bit, a dust reservoir and a pump. Thanks to the transparent cover, the user can easily see when the dust reservoir needs to be emptied.
The design is striking: two circular areas – apertures for the drill bit and the pump – joined by a trapezium. The cylindrical shape fits the hand well.
Powered by a rechargeable battery, the drilling dust collector not only looks robust and powerful, but also uses little electricity.
Jury / Judges panel
A great idea for DIY enthusiasts who don’t want any hassle. We’re all familiar with the scenario: to drill a hole you need two people – one to do the drilling and one to hold the vacuum cleaner. And now you can do it all on your own.
Technical teaching aid “Energy education toys”
Manufacturer
Jürgen Breitkopf Products
D-48161 Münster
www.breitkopf-products.de
info@breitkopf-products.de
Design
Jürgen Breitkopf Products
D-48161 Münster
These educational toys, designed for schools, independent educational institutions and the leisure sector, are intended to promote awareness of energy, in particular electrical energy, among children and adolescents.
Using the toys, children learning through play how electrical energy can be generated with renewable energy, e.g. photovoltaics or wind turbines. The set includes a hand crank generator which generates the same power output as a wind turbine or solar panels. The consumers are products that children are familiar with – small electrical appliances such as a radio, a Walkman or a Lego motor.
On the consumer side, efficient use of energy is demonstrated by comparisons between conventional and new technologies, e.g. between incandescent bulbs and white LEDs.
Drive units (motors) that can be operated on their own or – by means of an adapter – used with the Lego system, show how energy can be handled with appropriate technology.
Small appliances such as a pocket radio can easily be powered.
By means of a model house with a working electric cooker, washing machine and lighting, the difference between large and small domestic electrical consumers can be illustrated. The power consumption of the individual appliances relative to one another corresponds to reality.
The good product design helps to make the topic attractive – via the senses, pleasant appearance and clarity.
Jury / Judges panel
Educational toys with a large number of components for experiments, to enable children and adolescents to explore the relationships between electricity, solar energy and manually generated energy for themselves. Modular system with simple components, easy to understand, cries out to be used! Well conceived, very attractively designed.
Scooter “CP 3″
Medicine, Rehabilitation,
Geriatrics
SwitchMobility GmbH
Calwer Str. 11
70173 Stuttgart
www.switchmobility.com
info@switchmobility.com
Design
Industrial PDD GmbH & Co.KG
D-70173 Stuttgart
www.industrial.li
mail@industrial.li
It is usually due to their design that conventional scooters degrade some users – older individuals who attach increasingly more importance to better quality of life, independence and mobility – to “handicapped” status. Because of their lack of manoeuvrability or their size these scooters can only be used outdoors. For example, they have to be parked outside the supermarket because the aisles between the shelves are too narrow for them.
The “CP 3″, developed as part of a research project, reflects a new approach. Thanks to its small size and remarkable manoeuvrability it can be used not only on the road but also in supermarkets and even in the owner’s home.
The CP 3’s unique manoeuvrability is the result of a new, patented technology: by means of two servo motors the angle of the rear wheels, which are driven by hub motors, can be adjusted by up to 90 degrees to the left or right. This enables the scooter not only to rotate on the spot but also to move to the left or right with the wheels parallel to one another.
Thanks to modular construction three different models are available, including one for the standard scooter market. Accessories such as a shopping bag or golf bag holder round off the product range. so that the CP 3 can also be used on the golf course, for shopping or at airports.
Jury / Judges panel
Very helpful product for a large target group – older people. The small turning circle and the ability to move sideways are impressive features. Very good concept. A good product for the future.
Tabletop barbecue with handle “outclass”
Eva Denmark A/S
DK-2760 Måløv
www.evadenmark.com
mail@evadenmark.com
Design
Claus Jensen & Henrik Holbaek
Tools®
DK- 2400 Kopenhagen NV
www.toolsdesign.dk
email@toolsdesign.dk
With this barbecue on the table, everyone present can share the pleasure of cooking over charcoal. The porcelain outer shell contains a charcoal holder and a grid made of stainless steel. The barbecue has a steel handle that allows it to be carried to the table before lighting the charcoal.
The barbecue works as follows: A stainless steel holder is placed in the porcelain bowl. A plate-like heat shield placed on the holder reduces thermal radiation towards the table and prevents damage to heat-sensitive table-mats etc. Then the charcoal holder and grill are placed in the bowl. The “outclass” burns far less charcoal than a conventional barbecue.
And after the meal the bowl, charcoal holder and grill can be put into the dishwasher. Only the heat shield and the tray have to be cleaned by hand. The porcelain bowl is multifunctional: When it is not being used for a barbecue it can also be used – without the insert – as a salad bowl.
Jury / Judges panel
Nice little tabletop barbecue for the balcony, e.g. for consumers who have no garden. Ideal for one-person households or couples. The components are easy to disassemble and clean. The material – porcelain – is new an interesting in this context. Versatile.
Contract chair “Aline”
Interiors Manufacturer
Wilkhahn
Wilkening + Hahne GmbH +Co. KG
D-31848 Bad Münder
www.wilkhahn.de
info@wilkhahn.de Design
Andreas Störiko
I-20123 Mailand
storiko@compuserve.com
Minimal use of materials and exceptionally easy handling are the distinctive features of the “Aline” stackable chair. It is light but nevertheless robust. This novel skid chair, slender and comfortable, is a multipurpose chair that can either stand alone or in long rows, and thus be used in many different contexts.
The functionality of the design is particularly apparent in the distinctive shape of the seat frame, on the “skid-rail” principle. It allows form-fitting, extremely compact stacking.
Floating seat and backrest frames of high-strength, glass fibre-reinforced polyamide, covered with a high-performance sheathed polyester fabric, are mounted on a slender skid-type support of high-gloss chrome-plated round-section steel. At the front the skid frame forms the support for the seat frame. At the rear it passes through the seat frame, extending into the backrest frame. The support and seat frame thus form a sturdy spatial framework with small dimensions of the materials used and low weight. The backrest covering adapts to any anatomical shape and is very comfortable, being ventilated from the rear.
Jury / Judges panel
Very well designed plastic and metal construction, almost weightless. Wide range of applications. Very unusual, innovative connecting mechanism, never seen before by any of the judges. Has all of the functions necessary for a stackable contract chair. An efficient approach to achieving a lot with little material. Very well made.
LED Lenser “Parabolico”
Zweibrüder Optoelectronics
D-42699 Solingen
www.zweibrueder.com
info@zweibrueder.com Design Werksdesign Rainer Opolka
The “Parabolico” is the first-ever focusable 12-volt LED lenser. By turning the knurled screw, the beam can be individually adjusted via the radiation angle of the patented 65 mm diameter parabolic reflector.
The “Parabolico” is one of a series of leflectors that are far superior to other lensers in terms of brightness, service life, environmental compatibility and shock resistance. They are elegant, sensationally bright spots with a pleasantly uncluttered design. It is not least thanks to these characteristics that they set new standards of comfort in the home. They are a far cry from ordinary halogen spots, while at the same time being energy-saving requisites.
Thanks to state-of-the-art, patented LED technology these lensers can replace five to ten watts of halogen light, because their shape is identical with that of ordinary 12-volt halogen spots. They are easy to install in any standard 12-volt lighting system with GU 5.3 lamp-holders: you simply pull out the old spot and replace it with the new LED lenser.
Jury / Judges panel
Unusually low energy consumption for such high luminosity. The light is reflected in a mirror, a parabolic reflector. As a result, much more light is produced by a far smaller light source than conventional spots. Very intelligent combination of old and new technology. Great. Good, unusual design.
Airport fire engine “Panther”
Rosenbauer International AG
A-4060 Leonding
www.rosenbauer.com
rbi@rosenbauer.com Design
Spirit Design
A-1190 Wien
www.spiritdesign.at
spirit@spirit.at
The design of the “Panther” reflects not only the reliability and safety of this vehicle when fighting fires, but also its dynamics, power and strength.
The cab features a panorama windscreen of laminated safety glass and transparent doors. The windscreen and side windows extend high and low, offering the driver an excellent view of the surroundings. Electrically powered swing-out doors close automatically when the vehicle’s speed exceeds 5 km/h. An optimized development process and intelligent design of the body components made time savings and lower use of resources possible in production.
The larger model, the Panther MA5 8×8, is 12 metres long, 3 metres wide and 3.6 metres high. With a 1,000 bhp engine and an Allison automatic transmission it is a veritable powerhouse. Despite an operating weight of 40,000 kg, the fire engine accelerates from 0 to 80 km/h in 25 seconds and has a top speed of 145 km/h.
The smaller model, the Panther MA5, measures 11.8 x 3.0 x 3.5 metres and has a 740 bhp engine. It has a service weight of 31,000 kg and takes 31 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 80 km/h. Its top speed is 120 km/h.
Jury / Judges panel
Fascinating design, because tailored to the needs of fire-fighters. It is not really explicable with rational arguments, but it shows which design features may make an impression socioculturally. A very energetic design, with the right formal expression, even for tough assignments. Well executed, functional design. A life-saving machine.
Mobile solar power unit “Sun Set”
Würth Solergy
D-71672 Marbach am Neckar
www.we-online.de
rolf.schmitt@we-online.de Design KPG Design Group GmbH D-73527 Täferrot www.kpg.de georg.kunz@kpg.de
The “Sun Set” mobile solar power unit provides power for small electrical appliances in areas where there is no power grid. The energy source is sunlight. “Sun Set” was originally intended for hut lighting in Third World countries, as well as for use in disaster areas or places with no power supply, for lighting arbours or carports, for powering greenhouse ventilation systems, and in general for use in leisure/outdoor activities. It can be used for alarm systems, portable radios and TVs, for refrigeration and ventilation units, and for emergency medical care devices.
The power unit’s rechargeable battery is charged by a Würth Solar CIS module. Depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the battery in turn supplies electricity – 1.5 to 12 volts – to power small appliances. All processes are electronically controlled, from the conversion of the sunlight into energy to delivery of the power to the consumer units. The result is optimized efficiency, long life and user-friendliness.
In addition, “Sun Set” not only has two charging stations for energy-saving lanterns, which can be removed at any time, but also two charging bays for standard rechargeable batteries and a 12-volt power outlet.
Jury / Judges panel
An attempt was made more than 10 years ago to introduce solar energy in the camping sector. It didn’t work, because the products were designed purely on a functional level. By contrast, taking up the iconography of the old Coleman gas lamps seems a good attempt to apply solar technology in the outdoor sector. Makes good sense – the way the handle works, as well.
