Formica Group wins the red dot award: product design 2013
News Release
22nd April 2013
Formica Group, a leading global manufacturer of innovative surfacing products, is delighted to announce it has been awarded a prestigious red dot award. The international jury of experts gave the red dot award: product design 2013 to the new avant-garde texture Plex from the DecoMetal® by Formica Group range of High Pressure Laminate, recognising its innovation and appeal.
The red dot award: product design is one of the most renowned and internationally acclaimed design competitions. This year the 37-member jury of experts received 4,662 entries; more than ever before in the history of the red dot. There were 1,865 designers, architects and companies from 54 countries who submitted designs in the 19 different categories, proving that the red dot awards are a truly global event promoting expertise and creativity.
"We are honoured and proud to have received such an accolade," says Renee Hytry Derrington, VP Design, Formica Group. "The red dot award is a testament to our continuous research and development in the field of design. Formica Group strives to lead the way in innovation for the production of High Pressure Laminate. Our products combine high quality with cutting edge design to provide architects, designers and specifiers with a vast portfolio of inspirational choice of decors, textures and surfacing materials."
Formica Group, the inventor of laminate, marks 100 years of invention, innovation and design leadership in 2013. Plex is an embodiment of this continued leadership in the industry which also incorporates Formica Group's commitment to sustainable principles and practices. Formica Group is the first global laminate manufacturer to carry the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Reduction Label and its products also received the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality and FSC® Chain of Custody certification.
With Plex, Formica Group's design team looked to develop an alternative to long-established brushed metals that was contemporary, and complemented the enduring popularity of metallic looks in interior design schemes. “We created Plex as a texture on top of real metal foils, a small scale, versatile finish that impresses with its textile feel, crisp touch and low gloss sheen” says project lead Eva Hoernisch, European Design Manager. “It combines the texture, colour and character of real metals with the practical, hard wearing yet lightweight and flexible properties of a laminate”.
The inspirations behind the look for Plex were crisp satin and silk weaves with their subtle reflective and tactile quality. To further enhance its appeal for interior design schemes, Formica Group also worked to answer the trend for colour warming launching five different options from traditional cool to new warm tones into its DecoMetal® range to perfectly combine with the Plex texture for maximum appeal and versatility.
"The red dot design award is an important mouthpiece and marketing tool for the design industry, it helps to convey how important the role of design is towards contributing to economic growth and commercial success”, explains red dot jury member Martin Darbyshire (United Kingdom). Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of the red dot, adds: “Winning a red dot award can help, because the results of the ‘red dot award: product design’ also reflect the trends and thus the future of the respective industry.”
More than 1,200 guests from the world of design, industry, society and media will celebrate the winners of the red dot award: product design at the red dot gala in Essen, Germany on July 1 2013. Plex laminate will then be put on display during a four-week special exhibition (2nd- 28thJuly 2013) in the red dot design museum in Essen.
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About Formica Group
Formica Group globally leads the industry in the design, manufacture and distribution of innovative surfacing products for commercial and residential applications. Formica® laminate is the ‘original’and this year marks 100 years of invention, innovation and design leadership. For more information about Formica Group, its products, special programs and promotions, visit www.formica.com.
Formica Group is a global group of companies consisting of Formica Canada, Inc., Formica Corporation, Formica de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Formica IKI Oy, Formica Limited, FormicaS.A., Formica S.A.S., Formica Taiwan Corporation, Formica (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Formica (Asia) Ltd., and Formica Decorative Materials (China) Co., Ltd., among others.
Please Note: Formica, the Formica anvil device and DecoMetal are registered trademarks of The Diller Corporation.
© 2013 The Diller Corporation
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