Kiwi Designer Impress-es at Electrolux Design Lab

For Immediate Release 6th November 2012

Kiwi Designer Impress-es at the Global Electrolux Design Lab Competition Ben de la Roche takes out second place

New Zealand born Ben de la Roche of Massey University has been awarded second place of €3000, at the annual Global Electrolux Design Lab competition in Milan on the 25th of October 2012. Ben’s “Impress” refrigerator submission promises to change the way we refrigerate perishables and offers a sustainable and unique solution to food usage and storage.

Put simply, the design concept is a refrigerated wall that allows the user to press storage containers and bottles directly into the wall, out in the open and not behind closed doors so you will always remember the lunch you prepared for work or find that midnight snack with ease. Impress uses thermo-acoustic technology and gases such as argon and helium that are non-ozone depleting and harmless to the environment.

The Electrolux Design Lab 2012 Jury, consisting of Design Director at Electrolux Thomas Johansson, award winning chef Davide Oldani, distinguished designer Dante Donegani and popular design blogger Kelly Beall, selected the winners from ten global finalists.

The jury’s motivation for awarding Ben second place was, “Impress is a visual experience that is energy saving and simplifies the user’s life.”

The winning concept, the Aeroball by Jan Ankiersztajn of Poland, is a collection of luminescent, hovering balls that can filter and fragrance the air in a room. They float using helium and drift down to the ground when they are ready to be changed.

The jury was impressed with how the student’s creative and insightful thinking reflected this year’s theme, Design Experience, and how successfully the concept met the challenge of creating a holistic sensorial experience. “We rely on our senses for almost everything, so considering the senses is an important factor when designing appliances,” says Thomas Johansson, head of the jury.

“This year’s winning concept is a truly innovative concept that uses space in a unique way and delights our surroundings. It also changes our perception of an air cleaner, because it is delicate in aesthetics, it is emotional and also relevant, because it addresses the consumer’s needs.”

Electrolux Design Lab is an annual global design competition open to undergraduate and graduate design students world-wide. Established in 2003, the competition is encouraging and facilitating young designers in the pursuit of innovative home appliance design.

“Creating new value and propositions is what innovative design is all about. Electrolux is committed to innovation in design, research and development and Electrolux Design Lab is one way of exploring new arising ideas. In addition the competition is a chance for us to meet the design talent of tomorrow”, said Stefano Marzano, Chief Design Officer at Electrolux.

Electrolux Design Lab 2012 challenged design students to draw inspiration from professional experience creators such as chefs, architects, interior designers and hotel designers to design future home appliances that will provide a fuller sensory experience.

The brief for 2012 was looking for concepts that best reflect Electrolux proud heritage of Scandinavian Design whilst working to create new home appliances that stimulate, engage and enlighten all of our senses. The jury considered entries based on intuitive design, innovation and consumer insight.

One of the purposes of the competition is to function as an innovative arena for the introduction of new talents and products to the market. First prize is EUR 5,000 and a six-month paid internship at an Electrolux global design center. Second prize is EUR 3,000 and third prize of EUR 2,000.

The top 3 placings can be seen below

First place: Aeroball

Country: Poland

Designer: Jan Ankiersztajn

School: Uniwersytet Artystyczny w Poznaniu

The Aeroball is a revolutionary way to improve the spaces in which we live. In tiny bubbles that float and hover, the Aeroball cleans and filters the air while hovering in place. When filtration is not enough, the Aeroball also comes in scented varieties. Designed with inspiration from nature, the glowing shell of the sphere absorbs light during the day and radiates at night, a delicate indoor firefly always working to improve the air that we breathe. Space is such a valuable commodity these days so the Aeroball works to purify and refresh the environments we live in more precious and beautiful.

Second Place: Impress

Country: New Zealand

Designer: Ben de la Roche

School: Massey University

How many times have you put left overs in the fridge and forgotten about them, only to come back a week later and find them spoiled? Impress completely transforms the way we refrigerate. Impress is a refrigeration wall that holds your food and drinks for you, out in the open and not behind closed doors so you will always remember the lunch you prepared for work or find that midnight snack with ease. Also, Impress refrigerator

does not refrigerate when there is nothing in it and uses less power the fewer items are pressed into it. Waste no more leftovers, waste less space and save more money with Impress.

Third place: Tastee

Country: Denmark

Designer: Christopher Holm-Hansen

School: Technical University of Denmark

Don’t you wish you had the sophisticated palette of a professional chef? The Electrolux Tastee is a taste indicator that is used when cooking to assist the chef in bringing out the flavours in the meal. The Tastee is the shape and size of a regular spoon but with one main difference, The Tastee tastes for you. Using receptors based on the human taste bud the Tastee tells you what you need, what you don't and maybe even something you would never imagine. Tastee helps you make the perfectly balanced, flavourful meal for you and your family to enjoy.

For further information please visit our website www.electroluxdesignlab.com

Kelvinator and Dishlex. In 2010 Electrolux had sales of AUS 6.6 billion and 52,000 employees.

ENDS

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