Red Dot Award considered the world’s biggest design competition. 31 categories from fashion to homeware. Hyundai’s sixth win in three years.
Covering an astonishing array of products, everything from luggage cases and watches, to pen knives, footwear, and new cars, the Red Dot design award is considered the most recognised professional design competition in the world. It highlights outstanding creativity from across the globe, and in the highly contested vehicle category Hyundai is making a big mark with six Red Dot award winners in just three years.
Participants from 57 countries registered more than 5,200 products for the 2016 event. Among the jurors deciding the 2016 Red Dot award winners were Hideshi Hamaguchi, inventor of the USB flash drive, Chris Bangle, former Chief of Design for BMW Group, and Alexander Neumeister, designer of Germany ICE trains among other works.
Participants from 57 countries registered more than 5,200 products for the 2016 event. Among the jurors deciding the 2016 Red Dot award winners were Hideshi Hamaguchi, inventor of the USB flash drive, Chris Bangle, former Chief of Design for BMW Group, and Alexander Neumeister, designer of Germany ICE trains among other works.
Sixth Red Dot Design Award for Hyundai in three years
And it’s in the vehicle category where Hyundai Motor has excelled in recent times. The ground-breaking IONIQ model has been recognised in 2016 for its outstanding design, becoming the sixth Hyundai car to receive a Red Dot award in the last three years.
The New Generation i10 and All-New Genesis were recognised in 2014 while the i20 Coupe, i20 Five-door and Sonata scooped further accolades in 2015.
The Hyundai i10 Hatchback design was praised for its athletic proportions and flowing lines offering a ‘sporty and modern impression’ according to the Red Dot jury. And while it is a compact city car, the i10 also garnered praise for its generous dimensions and the high-quality craftsmanship of its interior.
“Fluidic sculpture” was how Red Dot described Hyundai Genesis’s design philosophy. The eye-catching Hyundai model earned plaudits in 2014 for its mix of flowing lines and elements such as the front radiator grille. The use of leather, fine wood and aluminium for the interior was complemented by the Genesis’s impressive panorama glass roof.
Last year, no less than three Hyundai models scooped the prestigious Red Dot hallmark. The unique silhouette of the i20 Coupe was praised for giving the car a dynamic profile thanks to a sloping roofline, glossy pillars and a sporty rear spoiler.
Meanwhile the five-door Hyundai i20 was also lauded for its ‘clear and elegant’ design. Emphasising its style, the Red Dot jury praised the i20 for its glossy rear pillars in black colour which gave the impression of a floating roofline. In addition, the proportions of the i20 were described as indicating both power and lightness at the same time.
Last but not least, the Hyundai Sonata earned high praise for combining safety features with an elegant design. The human-machine interface (HMI) of the Sonata combined with its driver-focused cockpit scored highly with the jurors. Safety systems such as blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were complemented by a sporty appearance while characteristic design elements on the side of the car earned plaudits for an overall harmonious look.
Meanwhile the five-door Hyundai i20 was also lauded for its ‘clear and elegant’ design. Emphasising its style, the Red Dot jury praised the i20 for its glossy rear pillars in black colour which gave the impression of a floating roofline. In addition, the proportions of the i20 were described as indicating both power and lightness at the same time.
Last but not least, the Hyundai Sonata earned high praise for combining safety features with an elegant design. The human-machine interface (HMI) of the Sonata combined with its driver-focused cockpit scored highly with the jurors. Safety systems such as blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were complemented by a sporty appearance while characteristic design elements on the side of the car earned plaudits for an overall harmonious look.
A winning trend for Hyundai
The 2016 Red Dot Award represents a continuing winning trend for Hyundai. The Red Dot jury praised the Hyundai ICONIQ for an evolutionary design, a refined, sophisticated form, and for its application of new environmentally-friendly materials. The award is a further nod to Hyundai innovation as IONIQ is the manufacturer’s first dedicated eco-friendly model offering the choice of three alternative power-trains, electric, plug-in and hybrid.
The 2016 Red Dot Award winners will be honoured at the Red Dot Gala in July in Essen and each year the winning creations are exhibited at the Red Dot Design Museums, this year in Essen, Singapore, and Taipei.