This year’s title of honour “Red Dot: Design Team of the Year” goes to Munich: “Robert Sachon & Bosch Home Appliances Design Team” – that’s the name of the winners of the top award in this anniversary year of the Red Dot Award. The whole team surrounding head of design Robert Sachon will receive the award on the large opera stage of Essen’s Aalto-Theater at the Red Dot Gala on 29 June 2015.
Robert Sachon has lead the design department at Robert Bosch Hausgeräte GmbH for the past ten years and in this time has shaped the appearance of the brand decisively. In addition to developing the design language, his work focuses on integrating numerous technological innovations and on the increasing connectivity of the appliances: The most prominent examples, which have already been launched successfully on the market, are the ovens from the new range of Series 8 built-in appliances. Like the newest Bosch dishwashers, some models can be controlled via wireless internet using an app from mobile end devices such as tablets or smartphones. Thanks to sensor-controlled functions, the new Series 8 ovens also automatically ensure perfect baking and cooking results.
Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen bestows the title of honour “Red Dot: Design Team of the Year” for consistent and unparalleled design performance. According to Prof. Dr Peter Zec, Design Zentrum Managing Director and founder of the Red Dot Award: “More than 200 Red Dot and Red Dot: Best of the Best awards document the unique success story of Robert Sachon’s team. Particularly in the last ten years, the face of the Bosch brand has taken on a lasting shape. Now the company is ready to become a forerunner for the technologies of the coming decade: the Internet of Things and the connectivity of white goods. Nowadays the decisive factors for success involve creating product networks and achieving successful communication with the appliances. Because of so many historic peak performances in the past and its latest future-oriented achievements, I am proud to announce Robert Sachon’s design team as the deserved winner of our highest honorary title.”
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Red Dot Award, it is particularly significant that Bosch Home Appliances has won the award. In a joint exhibition, the Ruhr Museum together with the Red Dot Design Museum is reconstructing the 1955 design exhibition at the Zollverein World Heritage Site, which presented the results of the first competition. The first prize-winning Bosch products, such as the “Neuzeit I” kitchen machine and the “125 S” refrigerator, will also be on show as original exhibits. Prof. Dr Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag and patron of the exhibition “Enduring, not ultimate form”, will open the exhibition together with Red Dot CEO Prof. Dr Peter Zec and the Director of the Ruhr Museum, Prof. Heinrich Theodor Grütter, on 28 June 2015.
From 29 June, two further exhibitions will also document the award-winning design of Bosch Home Appliances: In “Design on Stage”, the Red Dot Design Museum Essen will show all of the award-winners of this year’s product competition, including the new range of Series 8 built-in appliances, which just recently won a Red Dot: Best of the Best. In addition, the Red Dot: Design Team of the Year is traditionally given its own four-week exhibition to attract the attention of museum visitors.
The special exhibition entitled “Icons of everyday life – Bosch Home Appliances throughout the ages” shows how the appearance of Bosch appliances has constantly developed further over time without losing the original character of the brand. Consequently, the exhibition will focus on archetypal design classics alongside the present status of design at Bosch. Especially in the past ten years, the team surrounding Robert Sachon has succeeded in changing the perception of the brand decisively and bringing the brand into a new digital era. “Winning the title of honour ‘Red Dot: Design Team of the Year’ is a wonderful confirmation of our work for me and my team and proof for us that history and change do not have to contradict each other. Instead, it is our aim to use this combination to create new and exciting products that remain current for many years”, said Sachon.
The title of honour of „Red Dot: Design Team of the Year“ is not one that can be applied for. Since 1988, the award has been used to select a design team that has earned a reputation with excellent product design over the years. Past winners include companies such as Apple, Porsche, Lenovo, LG, BMW and Hilti – and in 2014 the design company Veryday from Stockholm. Krister Torssell, CEO of Veryday, will hand over the “Radius” challenge cup to Robert Sachon at the glamorous Red Dot Gala 2015 in Essen.
