Feb 2, 2010

Five Companies Win Accent on Design Awards at NYIGF

NYC — Five Accent on Design® exhibitors were recognized today for design excellence, with awards for product design, overall excellence, best collection and best new designer, presented to companies from the United States, England and Korea. Accent on Design runs through Thursday, February 4, at the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Winter 2010 Accent on Design award-winners are:

Excellence in Product Design: Areaware (New York, NY) for “Shovel Birdhouse” Designed by Eindhoven grad Jan Habraken, this wood and metal shovel lets birds wiggle worms from the ground through their own momentum. The judges recognized Shovel Birdhouse’s artistic and iconic form combined with function based on insight and logic. www.areaware.com

Excellence in Product Design: j-me® (London, England) for “Float” magazine rack An original design by j-me, this chrome and powder coated steel, gravity-dependent magazine rack features a sleek industrial design. The judges recognized the Float’s potential to become a new classic.www.j-me.co.uk

Best Collection: Pablo (San Francisco, CA) for ambient, hybrid and task lighting Since 1993, Venezuelan-born industrial designer Pablo Pardo’s designs have exemplified an uncompromising devotion to simplicity and usefulness, fusing the highest technical sensibilities with the most appropriate material pallet. The collection, which is both innovative and traditional, includes LED task lighting and energy-rated incandescent or halogen ambient lighting. The judges recognized Pablo’s high design, quality and technology in a diverse line of lighting. www.pablodesigns.com

Overall Excellence: Eastern Accent (Sudbury, MA) Masayuki Muramatsu’s Japanese modern design collection seeks not only to introduce original Japanese modern designs to America, but also to inspire with Japan’s tradition of fine design and superior craftsmanship. The collection includes tabletop items, personal accessories and whimsical giftware. The judges recognized Eastern Accents’ superb and fresh editing that creates a serene and delightful collection year after year. www.easternaccent.com

A+ Best New Designer: Jung-woo Lee of EK DESIGN (Seoul, Korea) Jung Woo Lee, principal product and graphic designer at EK DESIGN in Seoul, South Korea, strives to incorporate expressive design into a variety of functional office products, including cardboard file folders and USB media players. The judges recognized outstanding design from Lee, a new, up-and-coming designer. www.ekdesign.co.kr

“Accent on Design is a renowned showcase of design-focused gift, home and lifestyle products,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “These winners – whether established or newcomers – epitomize the design excellence and innovation that distinguishes Accent on Design.”

Judging criteria included innovation, function, originality and design. The winter 2010 Accent on Designselection committee includes: David Alhadeff, The Future Perfect; Miguel Calvo, Design& Research; Jamie Gray, Matter; Ilene Shaw, Shaw + Co! Productions; and Wilma Wabnitz, Wabnitz Editions, Inc.

For more than 25 years, Accent on Design has been the industry’s leading resource for design-led merchandise, presenting a dynamic juried collection of contemporary and innovative product lines from 200+ exhibitors across all categories of gift, home and lifestyle merchandise.

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift and home accessory marketplace, with 2,700 exhibitors featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 31,000 buyers from all 50 states and 85 countries around the world are expected to attend this week. The summer 2010 edition will take place August 15-19, 2010, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. For information and registration, visit www.nyigf.com.