Apple Watch Wins Renowned iF Design Award Before Release

[MacRumors]

While Apple Watch could be more than a month away from a public release, it has won a 2015 iF Gold Award from the International Forum (iF) Design in its annual industrial design competition. The jury called the Apple Watch design "an icon".

The idea of combining classic materials such as leather and metal with state-of-the-art technology to create a very individual fashion accessory has resulted in a delightful product offering a holistic user experience. The Apple Watch scores highly for each design detail and is an altogether extraordinary piece of design. For us, it is already an icon.

Apple Watch was one of only two telecommunication products out of 64 recipients to earn the "Gold" designation. Out of the 1,624 products recognized, only 75 of them received a Gold Award.

The iF has been hosting its renowned design awards since 1953, and its jury evaluates products on a set of criteria that includes workmanship, choice of materials, environmental friendliness, design quality, safety, brand value, ergonomics, workmanship, degree of innovation and functionality.

Apple has won a number of iF Design Awards, for major products like iPhone 6, iPad Air and iMac to accessories like EarPods and Apple Keyboard. In total, Apple has won 118 iF Design Awards, but only 44 have earned a "Gold" designation, with Apple Watch being the most recent.

The design of Apple Watch is one aspect of the device that Apple has been marketing thus far, with design chief Jony Ive talking about the challenge of designing the smart watch and it appearing on fashion magazines in both interior multi-page spreads and cover features.

Apple will provide more information about the Apple Watch at its March 9 media event.

Article Link: Apple Watch Wins Renowned iF Design Award Before Release

 

[shlee9803]

absolutely ridiculous.

 

[michaelant]

So do they have one already? I'm guessing no. Which makes the iF Gold Awards seem a bit shallow..(?)

 

[filmantopia]

absolutely ridiculous.

Interesting. What's your design background?

 

[goobot]

If they had one in hand then congrats, if not then this means nothing.

 

[the8thark]

Apple will provide more information about the Apple Watch at its March 9 media event.

I laugh when rumour sites keep insisting they can predict the future. They are only assuming this but they make it sound like know it without a doubt. This is the likely scenario but NO ONE apart from APPLE know this for certain before the official announcement.

 

[BlueParadox]

absolutely ridiculous.

And why is that? Or have you simply signed-up to cause a stir?

 

[cdm283813]

Interesting. What's your design background?

Maybe he means don't judge a book by it's cover.

It's plain stupid to judge this thing based off looks. And it does not look great to begin with.

 

[Rogifan]

Maybe he means don't judge a book by it's cover.

It's plain stupid to judge this thing based off looks. And it does not look great to begin with.

That's pretty subjective.

 

[douglasf13]

Maybe he means don't judge a book by it's cover.

It's plain stupid to judge this thing based off looks. And it does not look great to begin with.

Looks are certainly an important aspect of a wearable device like the Apple Watch. I think it looks good.

 

[technosix]

absolutely ridiculous.

I agree.

Apple watch is as plain and conventional as watches get. A clean design for sure, but design wise that's very easy to do. I don't see any sign of the typically excellent J.Ive work anywhere on this product. Rather boring actually.

 

[DonutHands]

Interesting. What's your design background?

They used steel and leather to make a watch. WOAH. You crazy Apple, you are so far ahead of the curve with your crazy ideas.

 

[filmantopia]

They used steel and leather to make a watch. WOAH. You crazy Apple, you are so far ahead of the curve with your crazy ideas.

I'm glad that the judges' attention to detail is clearly more evolved than yours.

 

[AppleWarMachine]

Talk about good marketing...lol

 

[jbernie]

Maybe a bit too cynical but not out of the realm of possibility that they give the award now because by the time they get to next years award there maybe a new product released which is better and therefore the watch would never get the award.

More marketing material for Apple either way.

 

[filmantopia]

So do they have one already? I'm guessing no. Which makes the iF Gold Awards seem a bit shallow..(?)

Apple had to submit, so they clearly had access to all of the information required to make an informed decision. The judges are accomplished well respected in their design-related fields.

http://www.ifdesign.de/awards_jury_e

 

[Zaqfalcon]

Next year I intend to win with something imaginary.

 

[kdarling]

Apple had to submit, so they clearly had access to all of the information required to make an informed decision.

Yep, if Apple hadn't submitted it for inclusion, it wouldn't have won an award.

As with many other setups like this, the trick is to submit a product at a time when you expect little or no competition in your category.

I've had bosses submit things all the time for these kinds of editorial awards. The association gets money for membership, my boss gets a nice Lucite trophy, and everyone's happy

 

[Donoban]

The apple watch can't fail now. It's already an icon.

 

[TMRJIJ]

I laugh when rumour sites keep insisting they can predict the future. They are only assuming this but they make it sound like know it without a doubt. This is the likely scenario but NO ONE apart from APPLE know this for certain before the official announcement.

So what are saying is that a site dedicated to rumors can't make a logical assumption of the announcement in an event which just so happens to be a month before a new product is set to release?

 

[PowerBook-G5]

Damn there is a lot of hate in this thread.

I, for one, actually enjoy the design of the Apple Watch. For those who say that it doesn't look good, well that's your opinion, but look that some of the Android watches out there. Most of them look hideous, especially the circular ones.

Good for Apple. Looking forward to this product.

 

[kmj2318]

I looked more into iF. The current ranking on their website has Samsung at first place, and Apple in seventh place...

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I laugh when rumour sites keep insisting they can predict the future. They are only assuming this but they make it sound like know it without a doubt. This is the likely scenario but NO ONE apart from APPLE know this for certain before the official announcement.

I'm pretty sure Spock would be okay with stating it as a fact that Apple will talk about the Apple Watch on March 9th.

But you're partially right, nobody can predict the future. You get it wrong when you say Apple knows the future for certain. Cosmic events beyond our control could occur such that March 9th never comes.

Since you said Apple knows the future, though, you must be comfortable ignoring the possibility of such a cosmic event. Realize, then, that the rest of the world is dismissing the possibility of Apple not talking about the Apple Watch on March 9th as being just as unlikely as a breakdown in the space time continuum.

 

[unplugme71]

Please tell me they had the final, mass-produced product to judge it. If they never physically saw it, or had a mock-up version, then this organization just lost all its credit.

Images mean nothing. Mockups mean nothing. Sorry.

 

[wigby]

I agree.

Apple watch is as plain and conventional as watches get. A clean design for sure, but design wise that's very easy to do. I don't see any sign of the typically excellent J.Ive work anywhere on this product. Rather boring actually.

Clean design is much harder than the alternative. If you don't understand that I'm not sure I believe your admiration for Ive's other work.