Touchy, feely appliances to win Electrolux competition

March 16th, 2012

Appliance News

What if you could feel what’s on TV or smell who’s coming?

The Electrolux Design Lab competition is calling for contestants to think about the sensory experience of using an appliance.

This year’s competition brief is to design home appliances that will provide a fuller sensory experience, whether through state of the art technology or an original blend of textures and surfaces.

“I believe the importance of our sensory perception is underestimated in a lot of today’s design,” said Henrik Otto, SVP of Global Design at Electrolux.

“Too much importance is accorded to the visual. What if we could incorporate our other senses into design?

“Could we smell who’s calling? Or feel what’s on TV?”

Prior year winners include The Snail, a portable heating and cooking device. The Snail can by popped on to a pot, a pan, a mug etc. to heat the contents. Inbuilt sensors detect what the food is and time and temperature is adjusted automatically.

In 2011 a Portable Spot Cleaner took the prize. It works by using negative ions and steam to remove stains and refresh clothes and it’s powered with a sugar crystal battery.

The award for second place went to Ribbon, an all-in-one hotplate, warming device and cooler for portable use, by Enzo Kocak from Monash University in Australia.

The Design Lab invites students and recent graduates of industrial design to compete for a first prize of a six-month paid internship at an Electrolux global design centre and 5,000 Euros. A second prize of 3,000 Euros and third prize of 2,000 Euros are also on offer.