Bloomberg Terminal
“In an age when LCD screens are so prevalent, to infuse one with that kind of energy and elegance is impressive,” Dziersk said of the new Bloomberg terminal. In replacing the original CRT box with a 17-inch flat-panel display bearing a slender, sexy footprint, Antenna Design aimed to refresh the company’s image as a leading-edge financial service and improve the environment of the traders who use it. Because the units are leased rather than sold, Bloomberg opted for long-lasting chrome steel housing and modular design (screens can be popped out of the holding bracket and replaced, the jurors noted approvingly). Viewable from any angle, the monitor has a sculptural finesse rarely seen in office equipment, yet it doesn’t appear overbearing. As Dziersk noted, “It has a timeless quality—I can see it being used in 20 years.”
Client Bloomberg L.P., New YorkDesign Antenna Design, New York: Masamichi Udagawa, Sigi MoeslingerMaterials Chrome-plated steel, injection-molded plastic, die-cast aluminum, chrome-plated extruded aluminumSoftware Adobe Illustrator, Ashlar-Vellum, Rhino
Fluke 165X Series of Multifunction Testers
Developed by Fluke’s in-house design team for the European market, the tester measures voltage, frequency, and other safety gauges, presenting the results on a backlit display with a wide viewing angle. While Dziersk saw the rectangular screen as “a compromise, though a good one,” he appreciated the ergonomic features: large, thumb-friendly controls and a bowed shape where the instrument would hang against the operator’s stomach. These details, along with the choice of color and materials, give the 165X its “essence of quality,” said Penney. But Siegel noted that an electrician’s tool so thoughtfully designed should have an obvious place to stow the test probe.
Client Fluke Corporation, Everett, WADesign Fluke Corporate Design, Everett, WA: John Ikeda, designer; Joseph Ferrante, user interactionMaterials Injection-molded ABS/PC, Estagrip, TPE die-cut brushed aluminum, injection-molded polycarbonate, polypropyleneHardware 3D systems rapid prototyperSoftware Adobe Illustrator, Alias, Macromedia Director and Illustrator, ProEngineer, Surfcam
Attack Triathlon Handlebar
Dziersk applauded the “almost perfect execution” of this advanced bicycle component, noting in particular the innovative use of bladder-molded carbon fiber to create a strong but lightweight form. Designed by South Glastonbury, Connecticut-based Ideaz for Easton Sports, the handlebar was engineered to fit the largest range of riders and offers unprecedented adjustability. It fits onto an existing stem, which allows it to be tilted up or down, and the elbow pads can be manipulated to fit the rider’s width. In addition to these performance details, the Ideaz team raised the aesthetic benchmark for a product typically made of aluminum tubing and wrapping tape. The bar manages to convey the sleek aggressiveness of a sports car while also promising comfort.
Client Easton Sports, Van Nuys, CADesign Ideaz LLC, South Glastonbury, CT: Jim Sener, creative director; David Mathieu, engineering director; Chris Hageman, program manager; Easton Sports: David Pringle, product design and analysis engineering; Michael McColligan, lead designer, bicycle R&DMaterials Carbon fiber, aluminum, bladder moldingSoftware Adobe Illustrator, ProEngineer
Lexis Directional Microphone
“It’s an unexpectedly beautiful product that overcomes the stigma of most hearing aids,” Penney said. The handheld microphone picks up sounds from the direction in which it’s pointed, filtering out other noise and wirelessly transmitting the words to any behind-the-ear hearing aid. The curved form fits comfortably in the palm, and a pullout stand lets the unit rest upright on a table. Responding to user interviews, the designers adopted the sleek modern lines of a cell phone rather than trying to make the tool look inconspicuous. Dziersk appreciated the silver lacquer and impact-resistant plastic, noting that the instrument was “anything but medicinal. It’s like what eyeglasses have become—a fashionable prosthesis.” The jurors’ only request: a better-looking carrying case.
Client Oticon A/S, CopenhagenDesign Locomedia Design, Kingosgade, Denmark: Christian Lockenwitz, product designer; Oticon A/S: Anders Koefoed, design engineerMaterials Injection-molded painted PC/ABS, rubber-coated friction-modified slide buttonSoftware ProEngineer, Rhino
Siemens c.cam
“This is exquisite! I love everything about it,” said Dziersk of the Siemens cardiac gamma camera—the first to incorporate a contoured reclining chair rather than a flat table. Conceived by Siemens’s design team for use in a doctor’s office, the c.cam represents a more approachable version of the company’s hospital machine. This furniture-inspired style led to the leatherette upholstery, four color options, and graceful profile. The reclining chair is not only good-looking but also easier for sick and elderly patients to use and far more comfortable than the standard metal slab.
Client Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Hoffman Estates, ILDesign Siemens: Ansgar Graw, principal industrial designer; DDD, Horsholm, Denmark: Jens Gronbech, project managerMaterials PUR foam, molded plywood, steel, leatherette fabricSoftware Alias DesignStudio, EDS-Ideas, SolidWorks
Intelect Electrotherapy Range
Modernist, friendly, trustworthy, ergonomic—this family of electrotherapy tools earned all of these adjectives from the jury. Designed by the Australian firm Design + Industry for the Tennessee-based Chattanooga Group, the Intelect line includes a wheeled tower for use in hospitals and more compact, lightweight components for sporting venues and other mobile applications. Penney appreciated that the design vocabulary was carried through the product line, creating a consistent interface. “And the carrying cases open, allowing the products to be used without being taken out,” said Dziersk. He also emphasized the Intelect’s stable appearance. As he put it, “It just looks like it’s going to help you.”
Client Chattanooga Group, Hixson, TNDesign Design+Industry Pty Limited, Sydney, Australia: Brad Ryan; Chattanooga Group Electrical Engineering Team: Paul Chapman, Ed Dunlay, Guy HillMaterials Injection-molded plastics, ABS/PC, plexiglass, glass-reinforced polyester, TPE+PE, high pressure die-cast aluminum, pressed sheet metal, aluminum extrusion, repetition-turned aluminum, compression-molded silicon rubberSoftware Alias Studio, AutoCA
D, CATIA, Macromedia FreeHand, Rhino, SolidWorks
Scott Electronic Management System
“It’s a great product with a great reason for being there,” was how Siegel summed up the SEMS, a wearable communications device for firefighters. Before designing the unit—which includes a two-way radio, motion sensor, and air gauge—Alloy’s project director underwent firefighter training, and the smoky, high-stress reality of the job is reflected in subtle details of the design: The asymmetric shape helps a gloved hand find the right buttons in the dark, and the screen inclines for easier viewing. Siegel also noted the product’s toughness; it can withstand flames up to 1,000 degrees Celsius and 10-foot falls onto concrete.
Client Scott Electronic Management System, Monroe, NCDesign Alloy Ltd, Farnham, U.K.: James Lamb, directorMaterials Thermoplastic, injection-molded Radel 5100 polyphe nylsulfone, EvopreneSoftware ProEngineer, Rhino, SolidWorks