Global and regional digital leader LG Electronics has won the ‘Design Team of the Year 2006’ award at the reddot design awards for its focus on design management. This is only the second time that the design department of an Asian company has won reddot’s ‘Radius’ Trophy.
The award ceremony was held in Essen, Germany, on June 26 with more than 1,200 people, representing the design industry, business, media, politics, and culture.
For the ‘Design Team of the Year’ Award, instituted in 1989, reddot selects companies that set exceptional, new standards in design through innovation. Previous winners include notables such as Apple, adidas, Mercedes-Benz, Nokia, Audi and Sony, the only other Asian company to win the award.
Earlier this year, LG broke industry records by winning reddot design awards in 20 categories and iF design awards in 11 categories. Products that propelled the company to the top were its wall-mounted projector (AN110), dual-core widescreen notebook PC (T1), 50-inch plasma TV, 42-inch LCD TV, front-loading washing machine and the Chocolate phone.
The wall-mounted projector and dual-core widescreen notebook PC performed especially well, winning reddot’s ‘Best of the Best’ design award. The Chocolate phone continues to be a bestseller in Europe and Asia.
The ‘Radius’ Trophy, which is inscribed with the names of all winners since 1989, was presented to Jae Jin Shim, head of display and media design at LG Electronics, by Mr. Stephan Dietrich of adidas’ design department, last year’s winner.
Explaining the selection of LG Electronics for this year’s honour, Professor Dr. Peter Zec, initiator of the reddot design award and president of the international umbrella organisation of design Icsid., said: “LG have a position of their own and set trends with products such as the wall mounted projector. Through innovative technology and design, LG has advanced from pursuer to contender. All its activities and products focus on human needs in the digital age.”
K.W. Kim, President, LG Electronics, Middle East and Africa said: “At LG, design is just as important as technology. Internally, we refer to R&D as 'research and design.' Our focus is not just on technology, but on creating products that enhance the lives of our customers. Our designers come up with some of the most stunning ideas and our engineers are extremely inspired to make them happen.”
Kim added: “In June, LG consolidated its existing commitment to design and officially declared its “Era of Design Management.” Many factors have facilitated the company’s ability to compete so effectively on design. LG’s Corporate Design Center is treated with the same importance as the company’s technology R&D centers.”
LG is the first company making a full range of electronics products to win the Design Team of the Year Award. LG’s award-winning products will be exhibited at reddot’s Design Museum until next year’s award ceremony.
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