Challenge-Driven Designs

The key to developing award-winning products? Focus on the challenge or challenges from the end-user’s perspective and design the solution. Sounds simple, sure, but the execution of this principle is not. When successful, the end result is an effective combination of aesthetics, ergonomics and innovation–the three criteria used in selecting this year’s Excellence in Design Winners and Runners-Up from a field of 103 entries.

This year’s three-person panel of judges were impressed by the many feature innovations, positioning of key features, effective use of materials, and overall styling. Each judge granted each entry 1-5 points per criterion, so that an entry’s maximum score was 15 points per judge; 45 points overall. Top point scores within a category were declared Winners, with Runners-Up being those that scored second highest in a category. For categories that were especially strong in terms of the number of high-quality entries, judges had the option of declaring additional Runners-Up awards. This happened in four categories: Commercial/Vending, Small Electrics, Medical Appliances/ Laboratory Equipment, and Test/Measurement/Inspection. Each of these categories have two Runners-Up this year. Judges also had the option of not choosing a Winner and/or Runner-Up for each of the categories.

Coverage of this year’s Winners begins on this page.

Best Overall and Winner—
Medical Appliances/Laboratory Equipment

CARESIDE Analyzer by CARESIDE, and its industrial design firm, Hauser, Inc.
CARESIDE Analyzer by CARESIDE, Culver City, Calif., and its industrial design firm, Hauser, Inc., Westlake Village, Calif. Designed to meet the needs of three distinct markets—hospitals, physician group practices, and nursing home and home care—the CARESIDE Analyzer, which tests blood, had to be easy to use, improve patient satisfaction, optimize turnaround time on test results, and offer cost savings.

Unlike typical blood tests which require a 24-hour lag time before results are available, the device provides results within 12 to 15 minutes at the “point of care,” with the most comprehensive menu of routine blood tests currently available. Within a single device, four test categories—chemistry, electrochemistry, coagulation, and immunochemistry—are available, while hematology tests are conducted on a separate device that can be connected to the CARESIDE Analyzer.

Perhaps the Analyzer’s greatest strength, however, is its visual appeal. It features a compact design, taking up less than 1-sq.-ft. of space, and the grayscale LCD display includes a touch screen for user input.

“[It] is very approachable, visually, for a complex piece of equipment,” notes judge Roger Funk. “For an initial product offering of a company, this is a very sophisticated sculptural solution.”

Judge Carl Price agrees, adding, “[I] love the soft curves and subtle detailing. Nice integration of the on-screen interface. [It] looks like it was designed in conjunction with the product rather than just an afterthought.”

A custom user interface provides sequential prompts for ease-of-use, and additional site-specific information may be preprogrammed into the analyzer. The operator places a few drops of blood into disposable test cartridges, and the results are displayed on-screen as well as stored internally and can be printed onto a card or transferred electronically to a networked data system. The system is designed to test one patient at a time, and up to six cartridges can be tested in the same cycle.

“The cumulative effect of pushing routine testing closer to the patient will be the end of centralized clinical laboratories, as we know them today,” explains John von Buelow, studio lead at Hauser. “It will bring about a change in the structure of both hospital labs and independent commercial laboratories because it is capable of performing a majority of high-volume, routine tests in a near-patient setting.”

To simplify manufacturing, the analyzer’s housing is made of injection-molded ABS. An internal sheet metal chassis is used to mount the analyzer electronics, optics, and mechanical components. The internal mechanisms are an assembly of formed, machined, and injection-molded parts along stock motor and drive components.

Key project players from CARESIDE: Jack Kratochvil, marketing manager. From Hauser, Inc.: John von Buelow, studio lead; Barry Sween, senior designer; David Hoard, senior designer.

For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Majors

Gemini Range by Maytag Appliances Cooking Products, Cleveland, Tenn.
This “twin- oven” provides 5.2 cu.-ft. of cooking capacity–more than any 30-in, freestanding, single-oven range. The larger bottom oven accommodates large meals, allowing the smaller top oven to heat up twice as fast, making it perfect for menu items requiring less space and time. The top oven also bakes, broils, warms, and toasts, and has an autoset temperature control of 170¿F for keeping meals warm. A scrolling control gives automatic prompts when entering cooking commands and allows for the customization of clock options, such as reminder “beeps” when baking time is completed. Roll-out racks “telescope” in and out of the bottom oven, eliminating the task of bending over and reaching into the oven. And by just having the twin doors, the product’s overall appearance automatically conveys the message of mealtime convenience, with consumers understanding at a glance the product benefits.

Key project players from Maytag Appliances: Tom Barnes, product engineering manager; Perry Bennett, research engineer; Rusty Zay, manager product planning; Ted Becker, manager, industrial design; Marilyn Sterchi, manager, product application lab.

HVAC

Stinger Refrigerant Recovery System by Fluoro Tech, a division of F.T. Industries LLC, and Fluoro Tech’s industrial design firm, Delaware River Design, New Castle, Del.
The main design challenge associated with this leading-edge recovery system was in creating a compact and attractive blow-molded case able to accommodate the system’s internal components and their requirements, particularly the air-flow requirements of the condenser and fan assemblies.

Using CAD software and rapid prototyping (stereolithography), the industrial design team created a dramatic departure from traditional boxy designs in terms of the lines and curves incorporated into the plastic case. Further, the case was designed to be flat on top, allowing the contractor to stack things on top of the unit or allowing the contractor to easily store the unit on a shelf inside a van.

The layout of the internal components also is different from traditional recovery-system layouts. Currently, recovery machines have the control valves and power switches together on the front of the machine, and the condenser and fan assemblies are traditionally positioned so that air flow is through the front and back of the unit. The Stinger’s airflow, however is through the sides. “By moving our electrical panel to the rear of the unit, and by situating the airflow through the side of the unit, we were able to utilize space more efficiently, resulting in a compact, well-balanced design,” says Michael Tranchina, design engineer, Fluoro Tech.

Other features adding to the overall appeal of this system include a molded-in handle; a recessed front-control panel located behind the plastic case to protect the gauges, valves, and service ports from damage; and circular inlet and fan outlets, instead of the squared or rectangular outlets found on traditional systems. “The fan is still square,” says Tranchina, “but we were able to create a create a circular outlet that does not restrict air flow. This circular outlet adds to the visual appeal of the unit.”

“The overall look of the design is rugged and serious,” says judge Roger Funk. “The design shows consideration for the placement of the carrying handle and controls. The integration of the mechanics and the container itself help to make this a unique and innovative design.”

Key project players from Fluoro Tech: Gary Hamilton, COO; Michael Tranchina, design engineer; Louis Moretto, manufacturing manager; Dan Tranchina, engineering. From Delaware River Design: Andy Vellrath, principal.

For more information on Delaware River Design, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Commercial/Vending

Caf¿xecutive by Crane National Vendors, Bridgeton, Mo., and its industrial design firm, RKS Design, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
The design challenge of this project was to arrive at an automated coffee/espresso vending machine stylish enough for professional environments such as law offices and board rooms. The solution involved the design and development of a highly contoured gas-assisted injection-molded front, mounted to a structural sheet-metal enclosure. Integrated into the curved surfaces of the unit is the coin-operated control panel that can be covered with a matching cover if coinless operation is desired. Automated features such as the swing-away cup holder allow the use of a carafe to be placed for filling without special set-up. Other innovations include the integration of the condiments drawer and the pull-out coffee cup dispenser.

Showing his enthusiasm for the unit’s form is Ravi Sawhney, president, RKS. “The compound curves play with light to provide a sculptural appearance, with reflections changing depending on the vantage point,” he says. “The bulging above the dispensing point creates the impression of activity and process. And the use of materials and finishes provides focal points of interest that draw one’s attention to the dispensing point and cup holder. Secondary details and form development show the handle for the condiment drawer and cup dispensing as intriguing points of visual and tactile interaction. We feel the form is reflective of a Pininfarina (industrial designer well known for Ferrari car designs) aesthetic. This aesthetic forms a very Italian association, which directly correlates with Espresso and fine coffee.”

“The sculptural and subtle styling are appropriate for the business environments in which the unit is intended,” opines judge Carl Price.

Key project players from RKS Design: Ravi K. Sawhney, president; Hiro Teranishi, vice president, design director; Cary Chow, vice president, project manager; Lance Hussey, vice president; Chris Glupker, designer; Kurt Botsai, designer; Frank Zinni, designer; Juan Cilia, model maker; Mike Shuffert, model maker; Steve Miczak, model maker. From Crane National Vendors: Pieter Bouwkamp, vice president, planning; Andy Tershak, vice president, marketing; Jerry Podgorny, project engineer; Roger Decker, project engineer.

For more information on RKS Design, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Outdoor/Lawn & Garden

Blackstone 1000 Gas Grill by the Great Outdoors Grill Co., Joplin, Mo., and its industrial design firm, Design Central, Columbus, Ohio.
Simplicity and durability are the attributes that make this offering a stand-out. The first-ever gas grill to be made of 100-percent rust-free and rust-resistant materials, the grill features a top, bottom, unipillar, and base made of cast aluminum. The burner is cast iron, the cooking grids are thick-gauge porcelain coated wire and all hardware is stainless steel.

Attention to human factors can be seen in the simple LP tank exchange by way of a self-centering holster molded into the cast-aluminum base, eliminating the need for tools to free the tank for refilling, as well as eliminating the need to balance and register the LP tank, while securing it to the frame of a cart.

“The biggest influence driving the aesthetics is the product’s durability,” says Diana Juratovac, vice president, Design Central. The next biggest influence is the taste of the product’s target market: consumers who think of outdoor cooking as a rugged art form performed on a durable, heavy duty and indestructible, no-frills cooking machine.”

“The design successfully emphasizes utility,” notes judge Carl Price. “There is no confusion over what the grill does or how it works. The gas bottle protection and use of materials are the most impressive aspects of the design.”

Key project players from the Great Outdoors Grill Co.: Jamie Harrod, chairman; Wes Ogden, COO; Rob Johnson, president and CEO; Mike Kidwell, materials manager; Leo Caddy, vice president operations. From Design Central: Diana Juratovac, vice president; Rainer Teufel, principal; Greg Drobeck, designer (formerly with Design Central and now with Oasis Corp.); Paul Hsu, design-engineering.

For more information on Design Central, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Computers/Electronics/Office Equipment

Telular Phonecell SX4e by Telular Corp., Vernon Hills, Ill., and its industrial design firm, Anderson Design, Plainville, Conn.
The Telular Phonecell SX4e was designed to turn any telephone into a wireless uplink via satellite, enabling communications from any location that supports GSM cellular protocol. Initially developed for use in emerging countries, the SX4e is a global product with a “restained elegance appropriate for a boardroom or a private residence, while being rugged enough to survive anywhere,” says Bob Marvin, director, velocity, Anderson Design.

Designed to support voice, fax, and data communications, these options are clearly marked. Prominent indicator lights, mounted on the top of the unit, provide the user instant confirmation that the information was sent, as well as the status codes for technicians. The two-part housing is comprised of an injection-molded ABS top cover and a die-cast aluminum chassis. The chassis is completely shielded and assembled to the plastic cover with snap fits, eliminating the need for fasteners and providing disassembly at the end of the lifecycle for upgrade and reuse. Structural ribbing found in the case top was designed to form strain relief and channels for the wiring in both wall-mount and desk-top configurations. And the protocol chip was strategically placed behind a panel on the underside of the unit where it is well protected and shielded.

“The product’s appearance relates to the product’s function,” observes judge Robert DeFelice. “The curves and waves imply that it is emitting or receiving signals.”

Key project players from Telular Corp.: Michael Donovan, program manager; David A. Tobias, engineering manager; John D’Ambrosio, engineer. From Anderson Design: Bob Marvin, project manager; Joe Toro, industrial designer; Norm Barrigas, design engineer.

For more information on Anderson Design, Inc. please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Floor Care

Electrolux Oxygen Vacuum Cleaner by Electrolux Home Products, Stockholm, Sweden.
This canister vacuum cleaner is as stylish as it is health-conscious. The cleaner’s health-conscious features include the Gore® Clean Stream® filter, a washable filter made of laminated polymeric material that rids the air of microscopic dust and the Back-Saver® system, a set of ergonomic innovations developed to ease strain and stress on the user. The system includes the pivoting carrying handle that is easy to reach with only a slight bending movement, and a lightweight S-shaped tube that lessens back strain while vacuuming under furniture. The cleaner also provides an impressive 440W of suction power at a noise level of 71dB(A).

The large handle and wheels, geometric lines and attractive finishes, help communicate prestige and power.

“What’s eye-appealing about this design is the friendly form that nicely integrates all the elements,” opines judge Roger Funk. “Both the wand and canister appear user-friendly.”

Key project players from Electrolux: Michael Green, design manager; Esbj¿rn Svantesson, senior industrial designer; Gina Gonzalez, color, concept, and trend specialist; Kim Lim, senior graphic designer; Dan Augustini, Niclas Andersson and Lars Larsson (now retired), project leaders; Stefan Pettersson and G¿ran Gudmundsson, construction leaders; Ake Holm, project engineer and Tord Pettersson, tooling consultant; Gene Petersson, purchasing.

Portable Power Tools

Ridgid Brand Oscillating Edge Belt/ Spindle Sander by Emerson Tool Company, St. Louis.
Aiming to please both hobbyists and serious wood craftsmen, the Ridgid Oscillating Edge Belt/Spindle sander combines the utilities of two existing types of sanders: spindle and belt sanding.

A spindle sander, which sands inside and outside curves, oscillates but fails to sand efficiently due to its cylindrical shape. In contrast, a belt sander sands flat surfaces and outside curves, but does not oscillate, causing the sandpaper to clog and failing to create a smooth finish. Additionally, belt sanders feature adjustable-angle tables for precision angle sanding, while spindle sanders do not.

Emerson Tool Company managed to combine the best of both sanders by creating interchangeable attachments for the two functions—a quick conversion that requires no tools.

Designers also aimed to create storage space for the product’s attachments, including the sanding drums, table inserts, and the edge belt sander assembly. In addition to being easily accessible while in use, the attachments had to stay in place when transported. The drums are stored in the front of the sander, beneath the adjustable-angle table recesses in the housing.

The adjustable-angle table serves two functions. When the sander is in use, the table supports the wood and protects the attachments from sawdust. When transported, the table is secured against the attachments, holding them in place. Carrying handgrips on the right and left sides make the sander easy to transport.

Additionally, the designers achieved visual appeal by rendering the sander’s functions self-evident.

“The form follows what it does in a way that makes it look durable and user-friendly,” notes Kiyo Hoshino, industrial designer at Emerson Tool Co. “All the knobs are high-visibility orange to identify a user interface and for safety. A darker gray bottom is mated to the lighter gray enclosure for a solid construction, both visually and functionally. The bottom is also grooved for solid placement on sawhorses.”

A dust-collecting port keeps the air free of dust, and all the materials used, except the sandpaper, are recyclable. The product is easily serviced via a removable bottom cover.

Judge Robert DeFelice adds, “[It] looks rugged and easy to use. Storage for sandpaper in front is a very good idea. [It’s] convenient, easy to carry, and almost offers ‘twin’ sanding.”

Key project players from Emerson Tool Company: Kiyo Hoshino, director of industrial design, and James Shroeder, senior project engineer.

Small Electronics

Heat Surround Electronic Toaster CPT-35 by Cuisinart, Windsor, N.J., and its industrial design firm, Focus Design, Stamford, Conn.
Imagine a toaster that does as good a job toasting your sandwich bread as it does your bagels. Cuisinart, Stamford, Conn., along with Focus Design, Newtown, Pa., designed the Heat Surround Electronic Toaster to be easy to use, easy to clean, unique and attractively designed and able to toast very thick and thin slices of bread. The toaster features a cool touch exterior, soft curves, and simple controls.

Additionally, the large toasting chamber with electronic temperature compensation features 2 in.-wide slots with patented movable heating grids for consistent toasting. “The overall form for the toaster is soft and non-aggressive,” Duncan Copland, principal at Focus Design, says. “This soft form aids in the molding of the plastic housing and ensures strong moldings with minimum distortion.”

“This is a very traditional toaster form that is restrained and nicely understated,” says judge Roger Funk. “It does not shout visually, and the form suggests that it is well suited for its purpose.”

To ease the manufacturing process, engineers used plastic injection molding, metal forming, automated electronic component insertion, automatic circuit testing, offset printing, and pad printing graphics. Additionally, the designers used common parts wherever possible.

“Common fixtures are used to locate and assemble parts, minimum parts are used, and subassemblies are made separately and then supplied to the main assembly line,” Mary Olsen, Cuisinart’s product manager, explains.

Key project players from Cuisinart: Barry Haber, senior vice president; Paul Ackels, group vice president, marketing; Jill Orent, director, marketing; Mary Olsen, product manager; Art Sansone, vice president, engineering; Dave Wanat, director, engineering; Asik Braginsky, lab technician. Key project players from Focus Design: Duncan Copland, principal.

For more information on Focus Design please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Fitness Equipment

Recumbent Bike 846R by Precor, Bothell, Wash., and its industrial design firm, Cesaroni Design, Glenview, Ill.
Fitness club bikes come with design demands all their own. In addition to being able to withstand 16 hours’ activity per day, a fitness club bike must appear attractive enough to draw exercise buffs to take a spin.

When Precor decided to complete its club fitness line, it charged Cesaroni Design, Inc. with the task of combining innovation, reliability, and refinement in a single exercise bike, while reducing tooling costs.

Meeting Precor’s demand for reliability, the bike features a durable frame and high performance drive system. By using identical main covers for the Recumbent Bike and its close cousin, the Upright Bike, the bike shared 90 percent of the total tooling costs, amounting to $382,000 of $436,000.

Serviceability is easily achieved by removing the console, seat, and side covers through a system of socket head cap screws. Removing only one of the side covers exposes all of the bike’s internal mechanisms.

“The aesthetics of the Recumbent Bike elegantly communicate two attributes—speed and strength,” says Laura DeLacy, marketing manager at Cesaroni Design. “The strong diagonal created by the unique cantilevered seat rail and sculpted side panels semantically represents forward motion, much like a motorcycle’s shroud. The bold intersection of the front support tube and the main body result in a solid, yet refined look.”

According to judge Robert DeFelice, “[It] looks better than most exercise equipment. [It shows] very good integration of multiple forms with smooth transition ‘scoop’ behind the exerciser’s calf.”

The adjustable seat accommodates a user size range of five percentile female to 95 percentile male and glides easily over the cantilevered rail. The seat pads feature soft recesses to relieve pressure on the spine and pelvic bone, while the multiple handlebar placement provides additional flexibility for the user. The user also has the option of gripping either the upper handlebars or the seat level handlebars.

The bike’s steel frame, aluminum parts, and plastic parts are all recyclable.

Key project players from Precor: Jim Birrell, director of design; Peter Arnold, senior industrial designer; Tom Moran, vice president of engineering. From Cesaroni Design: Jack Hough, project manager; William Cesaroni, president; Dan Gremonprez, vice president of engineering.

For more information on Cesaroni Design please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Test/Measurement/Inspection

ACCUTIRE Digital Tire Gauge by Measurement Specialties, Inc., Fairfield, N.J., and its industrial design firm, Bresslergroup, Inc., Philadelphia.
Bresslergroup, Inc. set out to enhance the accuracy and durability of a digital tire gauge with style and ease-of-use. The result: a tire gauge with an elegant, compact package and an affordable price. Additionally, Bresslergroup, Inc., sought to leverage Measurement Specialties, Inc.’s (MSI) transducer chip technology to enable superior monitoring of automotive tire pressure.

The gauge features a grip size and nosepiece angle designed to optimize comfort and ease-of-use, while the comparatively large display ensures easy reading.

“The resulting design incorporates simple, geometric forms, including full round radii, which are dramatically interrupted by strong angles that differentiate the grip piece from the ‘business end’ of the unit,” explains John Coleman, senior associate at Bresslergroup, Inc. “Matte black and warm silver colors were chosen to evoke quality and durability. The use of overmolded Santoprene rubber in the grip piece also adds to the look and feel of quality.”

The design team used standard human factor references to gather basic data while completing significant field testing with a variety of user types, including women, during the rough concept phase. The angle of the head and the placement of the “thumb rest” were designed to communicate how the gauge should be held, and are positioned for comfort.

“It is a simple, direct form that is small and compact without being fussy,” notes judge Roger Funk. “It is quick and obvious to use.” Funk also praised the pistol-grip handle for its easy usage and reading.

While the product offers a long service life, including a five-year warranty, the product’s environmental effects are felt in properly inflated tires, which maximize fuel economy and last longer, reducing the frequency of tire changes. Addition-ally, the gauge relies on lithium batteries, which need no replacing.

To simplify manufacturing, casework parts were limited to five, and the electronics limited to a single PC board located in the head of the unit. The entire assembly assembles without screws since the nose piece screws into the head, and the grip snaps in place.

Key project players from Measurement Specialties, Inc.: Steve Petrucelli, vice president, engineering; Steve Orbine, lead engineer. From Bresslergroup, Inc.: John Coleman, senior associate; Peter Bressler, FIDSA, Principal.

For more information on Bresslergroup, Inc. please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Peripherals/Accessories

M130/135 Mobile Headset by Plantronics, Inc., Santa Cruz, Calif., and its industrial design firm, Insight Product Development, LLC, Chicago.
The M130/135 Mobile Headset is a member of a new line of Plantronics products targeted to the mobile telephony user and the latest effort to make chatting on the phone while driving less harrowing for all.

The biggest challenge for Insight Product Development, LLC, Chicago, was to create a product that was globally successful. The design solution for the M130/135, a high-end cellular ear set with a pivoting boom, focused on initial user research. Insight Product Development found that a key consideration was the ease of putting on and taking off the headset, which needed to be as simple as answering and hanging up a phone.

Other ergonomic issues included stability while the phone was in-use, an easy on/off configuration, and isolating the ear hook from the positioning of the microphone to the corner of the mouth.

To meet the ergonomic challenges of the design, Insight Product Development included the following features in the headset:

Heightened adjustable and conformable earhook.

Cushioned ear muff.

Acoustic shield that helps fit the product in the back of the concha of the ear and helps seal some of the ambient noise from the environment.

Partial-in-the-ear speaker form which aids stability and sound quality.

Adjustable RF noise shield built into the connector.

Convenient inline volume control.

The design firm also designed the headset to be configured for use by either the right or left ear and can conform to a variety of ears.

“I tried this product at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and was impressed with the stability on your head,” comments judge Carl Price, who praised the product’s “simplicity and elegance.”

To minimize environmental damage, part strategies are broken up per molded material, and reject parts can be reground to be used again. Engineering features to minimize plastics and thus minimize weight, reflect a cost savings. Additionally, attention was focused on strain reliefs and all moving parts, which were engineered to maintain a robust and reliable part configuration.

“Economical part design strategies have consolidated superfluous parts to minimize the overall part count,” says Jim Caruso, executive director at Insight Product Development. “For example, the M130/135 employs a part that allows the ear hook to be positioned with enough friction and acts as the strain relief detail on the inside of the unit. The microphone-dampening boot became integrated with the noise-canceling ports and becomes an aesthetic detail on the product’s boom tip.”

Judge Robert DeFelice praises the headset as “small and easy to attach to one’s ear,” yet also “very shapely, soft-looking, nicely related to human forms.”

Key project players from Plantronics, Inc.:Gerald Skulley, director, industrial design & ergonomics; Fred DeKalb, engineering manager, mobile communications division; Debbie Abbott, marketing director, mobile communications division; Joyce Shimizu, president, mobile communications division. From Insight Product Development, LLC: James Caruso, executive director; Steve Mcphilliamy, senior design manager; Peter Langmar, senior industrial designer; Elliot Kim, industrial designer; Chris Labak, senior designer; Thomas Matusaitis, mechanical engineer; Jeff Condon, senior mechanical engineer.

For more information on Insight Product Development please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.

Runners-Up

Majors
Product: Jenn-Air Frameless Radiant Downdraft Cooktop
OEM: Maytag Appliances
Key project players from Maytag: Stephen Farlett, senior project engineer; Mark Pickering, product engineering manager; Ted Becker, manager, industrial design; Mike Bales, director of product design; Rusty Zay, manager, product planning; Jeff Essenburg, manager, product planning.

HVAC
Product: DRIZAIR 1200 Professional Dehumidifier
OEM: DRI-EAZ Products
Key project players from DRI-EAZ: Kevin Wolfe, industrial designer; Larry White, engineer; Matt Miller, engineer; Jeff Growden, engineering technician.

Computers/Electronics/Office Equipment
Product: Bizfon 680 Telephone Control Unit
OEM: Bizfon
Industrial design firm: Manta Product Development. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Bizfon: Eric Bachtell, vice president of manufacturing; Mitch Kary, director of hardware engineering; Peter Santeusanio, chief technical officer.
From Manta Product Development: Andrew Jones, president; Art Rousmaniere, vice president, engineering; St¿ne Barbeau, industrial designer; Laurence Massey, industrial designer.

Commercial/Vending
Product: Brooke Bond T-Bird Tea Machine
OEM: Van Den Bergh Foodservice
Industrial design firm: Design Stream Ltd. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Van Den Bergh: Paul Graham, visionary. From Design Stream: Miles Richard Pennington and Charanjit (Chaz) Nandra, directors.

Commercial/Vending
Product: QX2
OEM: Metcal
Industrial design firm: Thumbnail. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Metcal: Barry Benight, principal electrical engineer; Raymond Lui, mechanical engineer; Seth Close, mechanical engineer; Mike Carlomagno, mechanical engineer; Gabriel Aracibia, product manager; Jeff Wallingford, project leader. From Thumbnail: Tark Abed and Shawn Hanna, designers.

Medical Appliance/Laboratory Equipment
Product: Metriscan
OEM: Alara
Industrial design firm: Bridge Design, Inc. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Alara: Chris Mitchell, project manager; Ed Donlon, mechanical engineer; John Lewis, marketing manager; Joe Rimsa, manufacturing manager. Key project players from Bridge Design, Inc.: Bill Evans, president; Carl Bettag, principal; Ricardo Salinas, principal; Andy Lauder, product engineer; Terence Arjo, industrial designer; Patrick Myall, project manager.

Test/Measurement/Inspection
Product: 65 Infrared Thermometer
OEM: Fluke Corp.
Key project players from Fluke Corp.: Sena Janky, industrial designer; George McCain, design manager.

Small Electrics
Product: ‘Ice Cool’ Window Fan
OEM: Holmes Products
Industrial Design Firm: Herbst LaZar Bell (HLB). For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Holmes Products: Jessica Brown, product manager; John Rudolph, project engineer. From HLB: Anthony Pannozzo, director of design; Ward Fritz, staff designer.

Peripherals/Accessories
Product: Prelude MTS Surround Speaker System
OEM: Infinity
Industrial design firm: Ashcraft Design. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Infinity: Eli Harary, Infinity brand manager. From Ashcraft Design: Daniel Ashcraft, Creative Director; Trung Phung, senior designer; Reiko Abo, brand design manager; David Wathen, director, digital modeling.

Small Electrics
Product: Kahve Coffee Maker
OEM: Amway Corp.
Industrial design firm: Fitch. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Amway Corp.: Rick Good, senior research scientist and manufacturing coordinator; Tom Niezgoda, senior research scientist and electrical engineer; Steve Mork, program manager. From Fitch: Ron Vish, director.

Medical Appliances/Laboratory
Product: Achilles Express Ultrasonometer
OEM: Lunar Corp.
Industrial design firm: Brooks Stevens Design Associates. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Lunar Corp.: David Strait, project engineer; Richard Morris, project manager; Richard Mazess, president & CEO. From Brooks Stevens Design Associates: David Roland, design manager; Brett Vladika, senior designer; Scott Klos, engineering manager; Mark Gondek, prototyping manager.

Test/Measurement/Inspection
Product: LabScan XE Spectrophotometer
OEM: Hunter Labs
Industrial design firm: BOLT. For more information, please click on the "Free Product Info" link at the bottom of this page.
Key project players from Hunter Labs: Marty Goldberg, director, engineering; Hal Good, director, marketing. From BOLT: Monty Montague, design principal; Marty Gildersleeve, industrial designer.

Meet The Judges

Roger Funk, a second-year Excellence in Design juror, is a professor of design at Michigan State University. He began his professional design career at General Electric following graduation from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Industrial Design. He worked as a product designer in GE’s Small Appliance group and the Radio and TV group. After seven years with GE, plus a Masters of Industrial Design (MID) from Syracuse University, he began his academic career. In addition to Michigan State University (MSU), he has taught at the University of Cincinnati, the Kansas City Art Institute, and the University of Iowa. He has served as a department chair, school director and assistant dean. In addition to teaching, he is engaged in academic administration and developing cross-collegiate relationships. He authored an industrial design cognate, which was offered in the MSU College of Engineering. His current research interest is in digital photography. A member of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), he currently chairs the Michigan Chapter of IDSA.

Robert DeFelice is president of Robert DeFelice & Associates (RDA), Peabody, Mass., an established industrial design firm with in-house mechanical engineering capabilities specializing in value engineering, cost reduction and part simplification, ergonomics and high-visibility styling. He is one of a few industrial designers with degrees in mechanical engineering in addition to industrial design. Since its founding in 1973, RDA has designed more than 300 products for more than 160 clients in virtually every market including medical and lab, consumer, industrial, every piece of computer hardware, lawn and garden, networking systems, and others. RDA clients include Sears, Gillette, American Tourister, Zymark, Ion Track Instruments, GTE,, USCI Bard, Biorad and UB Networks.

Carl Price is manager of industrial design for Bose Corp., Framingham, Mass. Prior to joining Bose, he spent 10 years with Texas Instruments in Dallas, working across all divisions before becoming manager of industrial design for Texas Instruments Digital Imaging Venture Projects. As a member of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), he as served as the Texas Chapter chair, Southern District vice president, an IDEA (Industrial Design Excellence Awards) jury member, Boston Chapter vice chair, and is currently co-chair of the International Professional Interest section. He was also selected as a U.S. delegate to the biannual meetings of the International Congress of Societies of Industrial Design in Taipei and Toronto. A 1985 graduate of The Ohio State University, Department of Industrial Design, Price was a visiting professor there in 1993.