DOGLIKE

One of the industry’s biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW > 

The global workforce of today is more diverse than ever, and as such, the importance of crafting workplaces that cater to the unique and evolving needs of employees cannot be overstated. Architects, designers and manufacturers are leading the charge toward inclusivity in design, creating spaces that not only look great but also empower and accommodate their inhabitants. This shift towards inclusivity is driven by a deep understanding of the multifaceted needs of modern workers, who require spaces that are not only functional but also safe, creative and dynamic.

The traditional office has undergone a rapid transformation and, with it, workers’ needs. With the emergence of new technologies and innovations, a more mobile workforce, and a growing awareness of the importance of employee wellbeing, the modern workplace must be designed to cater to the vast and unique range of individual requirements.

Inclusivity in design is not just ethically commendable but also pragmatically essential. The workplace of tomorrow is being crafted today, and it is imperative that we design for the workforce we have and the workforce we aspire to create going forward. By creating spaces that encourage a varied, creative, fully engaged and safe workforce, we can embolden employees to be their best selves and truly thrive in their place of work.

Do you have an innovative product designed to contribute to the workplace of the future? If so, consider entering Architizer’s A+Product Awards:

Submit a Product

Visual

Left: Symbols by Atelier Adam Nathaniel Furman. Finalist, 2021 A+Product Awards, Best in Specialization, Conceptual Design; Center: Inspired Connection by Patcraft. Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Flooring, Commercial & Residential Carpet; Right: SafeGlow by Accurate Lock and Hardware. Finalist, 2022 A+Product Awards, Best of the Year, Health & Wellness. 

Designing for visual impairment is an exercise in empathy and innovation. It’s important to understand the world from a perspective where light, shadow, color and texture are experienced differently. Advances in tactile surfaces, braille-integrated signage, and audio-visual systems are about more than just compliance, they create an environment where vision is not a prerequisite for participation. By deftly considering contrast in color and texture, shape, thoughtful lighting and increased visibility designers can create a space is not just easily navigable but welcoming and safe.

Acoustics

Left: The Embossed Acoustic Panel Series by Woven Image. Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Finishes, Acoustics; Right: SoftenUp Ceiling System by Acoufelt. Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Finishes, Ceilings

Acoustics are commonly one of the most criticized issues in a workplace. Phone calls, machinery, and even just traveling conversations can make a poorly considered space a real challenge for those with hearing difficulties. The workplace can be an overwhelming cacophony or an isolating silence. Soundscaping in design now involves sophisticated sound absorption materials strategically placed to reduce noise pollution while enhancing clarity. With constant headphone use and, indeed, an aging workforce, hearing loss and reduction are real concerns for the future. Therefore, crafting an auditory environment with sonorous balance, enabling clear communication and reducing auditory stress is an essential target for the future of workplace design.

Mobility

Left: Radiant Wave Switch by Legrand. Finalist, 2022 A+Product Awards, Building Systems, Smart Design & Technology; Right: Single-track insulated Vitrocsa invisible frame by Vitrocsa. Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Best in Project Type, Commercial

When it comes to mobility, the modern workspace is becoming a place of unhindered movement. Mobility-focused design is a testament to the ethos of adaptability and accessibility. For wheelchair users or those with limited physical mobility, product designers are stepping up and ensuring they can help provide autonomy for workers with unique needs. From adjustable furniture to pathways that flow seamlessly, every element is an ode to unimpeded movement and welcomed independence.

Ergonomics

Lift: Liberty Ocean by Humanscale. Finalist, 2021 A+Product Awards, Best in Specialization, Sustainable Design; Right: LCS Table by Nienkamper. Finalist, 2021 A+Product Awards, Furnishings, Contract Furniture

As our workforce matures, ergonomic design is evolving to keep pace. Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles are set to create a myriad of issues in the future that it is vital we address now. Understanding that an aging workforce is not a challenging constraint but a valued aspect of diversity that provides unmatched experience is the first step in this process. By introducing intelligently designed furniture pieces that are individually adaptable and are designed having fully understood the mechanics of the human body helps to limit long-term physical challenges. Pieces that accommodate changing postures, aching backs, extended arm positions and lack of movement — these are the tools that will support a lifetime of expertise.

Neurodivergence

Right: ZITTO by Muraflex. Finalist, 2022 A+Product Awards, Furnishings, Furniture Systems; Left: BuzziNest by BuzziSpace. Finalist, 2021 A+Product Awards, Furnishings, Contract Furniture

Our understanding of neurodivergence is becoming more rounded every day, with many more people being recognized as having unique needs. In workplace design, this manifests in creating spaces that understand and respect the spectrum of cognitive experiences. It’s acknowledging that the brain’s wiring is as unique as a fingerprint. If we want to employ the most talented people in our industries, it is essential to design environments that cater to this diversity and make the office a welcoming and supportive place for all. Quiet corners for those who need to step away, sensory-friendly lighting for those who see the world in a different spectrum — each element is a step towards cognitive inclusivity.

Creativity

Right: Karim x Punto Collection by Karim Rashid Inc. Popular Choice, 2022 A+Product Awards, Furnishings, Outdoor Furniture; Left: Forsi by Keilhauer. Popular Choice, 2022 A+Product Awards, Furnishings, Contract Seating

As automated learning models evolve, mundane tasks are unlikely to be the job of the human worker. Without the need for data input or generation, it is creativity that will set the human apart from its AI counterpart. Fostering creativity in the workplace goes beyond providing tools; we must craft environments that inspire and support. Spaces that break the monotony, furniture that bends the norms –without rigidity, ideas flourish. It’s an acknowledgment that the best ideas often come from a place of comfort and freedom, and design is the key to unlocking the potential of the worker of the future.

Health

Left: GROHE Blue Pure New by Grohe. Finalist, 2022 A+Product Awards,Kitchen & Bath, Fixtures & Fittings – Kitchen; Right: Topos Upholstery with Supreen by Knoll. Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Furnishings, Fabric & Textiles

Health and well-being in our workplaces have been at the forefront of the minds of many for a number of years now, and design is playing a pivotal role. With innovations in prevention and cultural change, the market for products that make our workplaces healthier and safer is abundant. Materials that do more than endure; they protect. Air filtration systems that don’t just circulate air but purify it. Surfaces that resist microbes promote a culture of cleanliness. Touch-free technology that reduces the spread of bacteria. It’s a holistic approach to health that starts from the ground up, creating environments that care for their occupants as much as they inspire them.

One of the industry’s biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW > 

The post Workplace 2.0: How Today’s Manufacturers Are Designing for the Workforce of Tomorrow appeared first on Journal.

One of the industry’s biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW > 

Defining what constitutes a design classic is highly subjective, in part because we each respond to design from our unique perspective as well as the fact that we seldom recognize something as a classic until a significant amount of time has passed. Design classics ultimately transcend the traditional lifecycle of a product. Escaping the traditional ebb and flow of trends, a design classic will remain popular across generations. Typically, a design classic will sell continuously, and while the manufacturing processes and materials used will evolve and be adapted to align with the changing times, the product fundamentally remains the same.

It is often difficult to pinpoint the specific reasons that a particular piece resonates with consumers, and it can be even more challenging to predict what will gain cult status in the future. That being said, there are often distinct characteristics that a design or object will have that put it into what I like to call the “potential design classics” category. 

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller company (1956)

Architizer engages with thousands of product specifications every year and has developed a keen eye for recognizing the tell-tale signs of a “potential design classic,” and that’s why each year, entrants to the A+Product Awards are given an incredible platform to showcase their innovations to Architizer’s widespread community. From the renowned Jury, consisting of some of the world’s best architects and design firms, to the open Pubic Vote, which puts your product in front of tens of thousands of architects and designers that make up Architizer’s engaged community. 

Meanwhile, winners of this year’s A+Product Awards will be included in the inaugural A+Product List, a definitive rundown of Architizer-approved brands distributed to 124,000+ design-savvy newsletter subscribers. Furthermore, the A+Product List will be published on Architizer Journal and shared with our social media community of over 7+ million architects and designers.  

Molded seats of Egg™ Chair by Arne Jacobsen (1958)

Perhaps you think your design has the potential to be a future icon; if so, we’ve summarized a few of the stand-out characteristics that have defined the design classics we have grown to cherish over the decades — maybe your product will be next.

Design classics commonly encapsulate an era, demonstrating characteristics of a specific point in time. The historical significance of the period often becomes the attribute for which a piece is known. Case in point: Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair. Danish architect Jacobsen designed the Egg Chair for the Royal Hotel, SAS House (1955-1960). The chair has a minimalistic and organic form, internally made of molded plastic which was a revelation at the time; the foam-covered seat upon a metal pedestal base is by far one of the most recognizable Mid-Century chair designs to ever exist. Still manufactured by Fritz Hansen as it was originally, the Egg™ Chair embodies the late 50s and early 60s in physical form.

The Panton Chair by Verner Panton for Vitra (1959)

As with the Egg™ Chair, design classics often come to be for the innovation they showcase. We all know that’s is hard to forget a first love and, for the design enthusiasts like us, the same can be true of a first encounter with a new design process or a style that speaks to you. One such example is The Panton Chair. Designed by Verner Panton, one of Denmark’s most influential 20th-century furniture and interior designers. In post-war Europe, plastic first came to the forefront of design and manufacturing.

Experimental Panton became fascinated with the progressive polymer that could be molded into any shape and mass-produced. His dream was to design a chair made in one piece. “Fifteen to 20 manufacturers have tried it but have all rejected the project for different reasons,” Panton is said to have told Rolf Fehlbaum of Swiss manufacturer Vitra, and despite this, in 1963, they took on the task. It was four years and ten prototypes before a limited run of what became known as the Panton chair—a canti­levered seat in laminated, fiberglass-reinforced polyester—debuted at the Cologne Furniture Fair.

The novel injection molded techniques were new at the time. They didn’t take hold commercially until 1979 when plastic injection molding overtook steel production and became the most used manufacturing method worldwide. It was Panton’s groundbreaking work with injection-molded plastics that led to the manufacturing processes we are so familiar with today.

Anglepoise 1227 Lamp by George Carwardine (1932) Photo by Thibault De Schepper

As with the Panton Chair, it was an innovation that has held George Carradine’s name at the top of most influential designs for almost a century. George Carradine is a name synonymous with industrial design, and the talented engineer built a reputation of acclaim over many years through his profession in the motor industry. Throughout his career, his work was varied, and his obsession with the mechanics of suspensions remained with him through his successes. After a redundancy from mechanics, his unwavering drive for robust design led him to create one of the most well-known design classics of the past century — first Anglepoise 1208, followed by the iconic 1227. 

In 1934 Carradine created a new spring-and-lever mechanism, which stayed in position when moved or twisted. His final design for the Anglepoise lamp comprises joints that create tension in the springs and allow the lamp to be articulated into multiple positions. Thanks to its practical innovation, Anglepoise has become a staple in home and office for 90 years and has scarcely changed since then.

Zebras by The House of Scalamandre, Gino’s, Lexington Ave., New York, NY

Design classics will often embody some form of cultural significance, so it is for Flora Scalamandré’s Zebras. 1940s New York was a time of revival and regeneration. Many European immigrants had fled to the city, many designers and architects among them, bringing with them a developed and expressive modernism that was beginning to take hold of the design aesthetic across the city. 

The Zebras wallpaper was created in the 1940s for Gino of Capri restaurant, or “Gino’s.” Contrary to popular belief, the original design was created by Scalamandré’s friend Valentino, not Scalamandré himself. Mr. Circiello dreamed of an African safari he could not afford, so instead; he had playful zebras flanking the walls of his restaurant in a dramatic pattern colored in the now-iconic tomato red said to have been chosen to hide sauce stains on the walls. Having shut its doors in 2010, Gino’s had been a refuge for the creative elite of New York, including Ed Sullivan and Frank Sinatra. While loved and used by many interior designers over the years, Zebras is also well known for its use in Wes Anderson’s 2001 The Royal Tenenbaums. The wallpaper is steeped in cultural significance for the restaurant, the period and the people of New York at that time. Zebras has retained its favored status over the years, and now available in 11 alternative colors, the design is as popular as ever. 

There are few who set out to design a classic and even fewer who succeed to do so, but who knows, the next might just be yours. Shoot your shot by applying for Architizer’s A+Product Awards:

Submit a Product

Pictured at top: Egg™ Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen (1958)

The post Which of Today’s Architectural Products Will Go Down In History as a Design Classic? appeared first on Journal.

One of the industry’s biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW > 

Picture this: you relocate to a major city. The charm and prosperity of urban life beckons, but so does the absurdity of its real estate. One year, you’re settled in an industrial micro-apartment, the next in a shared townhouse, followed perhaps by a suburban one-bed — remote work unshackling you from the city and its inflated costs, your landlord decides to sell, they too can no longer afford the mortgage. You’ve moved six times in as many years and, along the way, have unwittingly absorbed the costs of relocating, depleting savings and pushing you further from your financial goals.

The current housing crisis is a complex issue influenced by various factors that are almost entirely out of our individual control. High borrowing costs, income level requirements, inflated deposits and housing shortages all play a part in this turbulent time. Right now, many people find themselves in a situation where they are unable to enter the property market. A shortfall of affordable housing is warping the rental sector into a pressure cooker. The middle classes, who, in previous years, could and would have purchased a home, are currently unable to do so. The result is a surge in demand for rental housing which in turn is inflating rental costs and pushing lower-income families and individuals out of the running altogether. It is a time of great uncertainty and insecurity.

Shaal by Arper. Jury Winner, 2022 A+Product Awards, Furniture Systems

This is the reality for a generation of renters whose ambitions of buying their own homes were shot down faster than a suspected surveillance balloon. As a consequence of the unstable housing market, we have reached a point where the frequency of moving is such that the things we buy for our homes need to be almost as mobile as our phones.

You see, there is a reluctance from renters to buy quality (generally more expensive) furniture — the cry of “What if I can’t take it with me?” echoing across the hushed labyrinth of furniture showrooms worldwide. The evidence lies within the masses of budget furniture websites and the astronomical number of upcycling videos on TikTok. Each proves we are inclined to buy cheap and often over costlier and singularly. Gone are the days when a beautiful, well-crafted piece of furniture was consciously designed, lovingly purchased and carefully passed down through generations. Or are they?

Daylight Island by Space Theory. Finalist, 2022 A+Product Awards, Cabinetry & Millwork.

Enter modular furniture. Manufacturers are deftly recognizing the societal shifts that are in motion, and their latest designs are a reflection of it. Whereas traditional furniture would neither fit the transient lifestyles nor shrinking and expanding living spaces of today’s generation, modular furniture provides the freedom required to adapt. The rise in modular furniture is not a trend; it’s a symptom of the state of housing in the 21st century.

With reconfigurable components, modular furniture allows tenants to recreate their environment at a moment’s notice. Got a new roommate? Shift around the sofa to create a new seating arrangement. Moving to a smaller place? No need to sell your dining table; just remove a module to fit it into a smaller space. It’s not just housing. The unsettled, evolving workforce is also benefitting from the modular furniture boom. Shifting from large central offices to satellite offices and back again is costly, but if your furniture can go with you, tremendous.

This article’s illustrations demonstrate the range of uses and styles of the world’s best modular furniture, as chosen by the A+Product Awards’ prestigious jury (made up of practicing architects from the world’s most renowned firms) and the global public who use these pieces every day.

Start A+Product Awards Submission

Brig Lounge Seating by Nienkamper. Jury Winner, 2022 A+Product Awards, Contract Seating.

And while the practical virtues are evident, let’s not overlook the deeper, less obvious merits of modular furniture. Modular furniture serves as a tool for resilience in a fraught economic climate. As more people enter the world of unstable housing — be it globalization, unsustainable development or plain market volatility — modular furniture lends renters some sense of control in their lives. With its ability to adapt and reshape, it reflects the social fabric of a world in flux, a form of ‘resistance’ against the fickleness of an unkind housing market.

Now, the detractors might question the aesthetic integrity of modular pieces. To that, the response is twofold. Firstly, advances in materials science have allowed modular furniture to achieve a level of craftsmanship that rivals any ‘traditional’ piece. We’re witnessing an era where high-density fiberboards can be as visually appealing and durable as old-growth hardwoods and where laminate and composite no longer mean a short life. Secondly, the sophistication of modular furniture lies in its simplicity and the ingenuity to fit into diverse spatial narratives without losing its functional essence. While evolution in digital simulation can pilot all scenarios before manufacturing or even prototyping, creating pieces that are more sophisticated than we have ever seen before.

Mehrform by Mehrform, Jury Winner, 2022 A+Product Awards, Best of the Year, Flexible Design

Additionally, the idea of modular furniture becomes all the more compelling when also seen through the lens of sustainability. Traditional furniture disposal contributes to an alarming rate of waste. Modular furniture, with its replaceable, versatile components, effectively joins the fight against mass furniture disposal. The ethos here aligns with a circular economy, wherein not only do you not need to replace or repurchase every time you move, but worn-out parts can also be replaced, recycled or repurposed, reducing overall waste.

What we’re seeing is not a trend but a fundamental shift in how we react to our changing society and interact with our living spaces. Modular furniture is rewriting the grammar of interior design, turning it into a flexible, responsive language that is in tune with the challenges of our times. It rejects the wasteful overconsumption narrative that is pushed as a solution but only serves to inflate the issues. It’s a multi-faceted remedy, a pivot in design thinking that champions quality and longevity yet parallels the unpredictable life trajectories of many. In a housing market that defies any expectation of stability, modular furniture stands out as a testament to human ingenuity, offering not just a seat at the table but the ability to reshape the table itself.

One of the industry’s biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW > 

The post Modular Furniture: A Quiet But Stylish Disruptor in Today’s Turbulent Housing Market appeared first on Journal.

One of the industry’s biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW > 

Looking closely at the dynamic movements of consumer trends within the design industry, it is apparent that the desires and expectations of today’s designers have evolved dramatically. What was once an industry whose sole purpose was aesthetically pleasing objects in aesthetically pleasing spaces has transformed into an industry fueled by exploring objects that actively contribute to our lives and environments. The modern consumer yearns for more than just a product’s intended function; they seek innovation and amalgamation that goes above and beyond.

In an era defined by finding solutions and great advancements in architecture, design, science and technology, consumers are no longer satisfied with one-dimensional solutions. They want products that not only serve their primary purpose but also enhance their lives in positive and unexpected ways. This shift in consumer mindset has prompted designers, architects, and innovators to push the boundaries of what’s possible, giving birth to a new wave of multifunctional products that seamlessly blend form and function(s).

Makers of innovative products for architecture and interiors are invited to join us for a global celebration of design by entering Architizer’s A+Product Awards:

Start Submission

With the current heightened awareness regarding well-being leading conversations, we are tasked with designing environments that promote and support our physical and mental health. There is a fixation on spaces that provide tranquility, rejuvenation, respite and support that has spurred the huge wave of development and products that actively contribute to our well-being. We are seeing products that integrate technology that aims to reverse many of the adverse effects caused by our built environment, tackling issues like air quality, access to nature, natural light exposure and even burnout.

As you prep your A+Product Awards submission, be inspired by the innovative products and brands that have caught our eye:

Air Purifying Paints

Image created by Architizer via Midjourney, inspired by ECOS Paints

The Air Purifying Paints of ECOS Paints is an innovative and eco-friendly product that provides an excellent solution to reduce health risks in indoor environments. Their Air Purifying Paint is exceptional, employing their patented Air Pure technology. ECOS Air Purifying Paint contains zeolite, a natural mineral that acts like a molecular sieve to absorb a targeted range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the atmosphere.

The sieve (a non-toxic crystalline tube) is sized to allow small molecules, such as nitrogen or oxygen, to pass unimpeded while large molecules (organic compounds) become trapped. The technology is combined with a safe and eco-friendly paint that has no VOCs of its own and no toxic chemicals, solvents, or odors. The paint has an unmatched ability to adsorb the harmful contaminants (Formaldehyde, acetone, glycol, and benzene) that escape from the furniture, flooring and textiles within our homes and workplaces.

Kneeling Chairs

Varier is a pioneering furniture brand that redefines sitting with their innovative kneeling chairs. Designed with a deep understanding of the human body’s innate need for movement, Varier’s chairs promote a range of natural positions instead of enforcing a single static posture. Conceptualized by designer Peter Opsvik, the unconventional approach to seating challenges traditional norms, prioritizing dynamic sitting for holistic well-being.

Rooted in Hans Christian Mengshoel’s Balans Concept from 1976, these chairs feature a forward-tilted seat and shin support to encourage mobility and comfort. Their iconic Variable™ kneeling chair exemplifies this philosophy, offering instant comfort and a liberating seated experience. Varier’s commitment to balanced sitting fosters not only better posture and breathing but also overall well-being, inviting the entire body to engage in active sitting and making movement an integral part of your seated lifestyle.

Unsurprisingly, sustainability is another driving force behind the demand for multifunctional products. With a growing commitment to environmental responsibility, consumers are increasingly inclined to choose products that not only reduce waste but also actively engage in thoughtful manufacturing practices. Yet, while the materials and processes used to create our products play a huge role in being climate-positive, there are a number of designers and manufacturers that are going further by rethinking function. These designers are asking — how can my design work harder for the planet?

Energy-Capturing Paving Tiles

Pavegen, a trailblazing force in sustainable technology, is reshaping the way we think about energy in urban environments. At its core, Pavegen’s innovative technology captures the kinetic energy generated by people as they walk or run over specially designed paving tiles. With each step, these tiles produce 2-4 joules of power, which can be stored for later use or directed instantly to power various devices, from lighting to advertising panels and phone chargers.

Pavegen’s ingenious approach not only addresses the challenge of harnessing renewable energy in crowded urban settings but also aligns perfectly with the growing demand for sustainable solutions. Its applications span various industries, from transport to education, highlighting the versatility and potential impact of this innovative technology. As the world increasingly relies on climate-conscious products, Pavegen’s growth trajectory holds promise, offering a glimpse into a future where every step contributes to a more sustainable and efficient urban environment.

Photovoltaic Window Blinds

SolarGaps are multifunctional smart blinds that surpass conventional window coverings. These innovative blinds don’t just provide privacy and shade; they actively harness the power of the sun to generate electricity while keeping interiors cool. Installed externally, SolarGaps seamlessly combines form and function by tracking the sun’s movement and converting its energy into usable electricity. This system operates within a wide temperature range and is wind-resistant, ensuring reliability and longevity.

The solar panels are highly efficient, boasting a lifespan of at least 25 years. What sets SolarGaps apart is their integration with a user-friendly app, providing remote control, performance reports, and smart home compatibility. With a sturdy motor, efficient inverter, and minimal noise emissions, SolarGaps redefines the concept of window blinds, offering architects and designers a versatile, energy-efficient, and technologically advanced solution that can do more than look good.

Efficiency, too, plays a pivotal role in the choices consumers make. In a world where every resource is valuable, minimalism is revered, and adaptability is praised, products that maximize efficiency have become highly sought after. Designs that optimize space utilization, energy conservation, and resource management are leading the way in this field. The integration of smart technology and automation into everyday products enables this pursuit of efficiency with the goal of making life easier and more streamlined.

Lighting-Furniture Hybrids

Carousel by Pablo Designs. Image from Pablo Designs.

Pablo Designs is a renowned name in contemporary American lighting with a design philosophy rooted in simplicity and utility. Their stunning Carousel is an innovative creation that blurs the lines between form and function, offering an elegant dual-purpose furniture and lighting solution. The two-piece series – table lamp and floor lamp – combine a wireless mobile charging tray with warm, glare-free illumination. The tray’s surface features two wireless charging zones plus a USB-C charging port to accommodate a range of devices.

Meanwhile, the table’s base is a transparent fluted acrylic cylinder diffuser that emits indirect lighting via a hidden flat panel LED control that includes full dimming capabilities. The multifunctional piece highlights how beautiful and understated integrated technology can be in supporting our everyday lives.

Dynamic Tinted Glass

Jabil HQ featuring SageGlass Classic by SageGlass, a Saint-Gobain company. Photograph by Halkin/Mason Photography

SageGlass is a fascinating product that is backed by well established company Saint-Gobain. The glazing uses advanced electrochromic technology to deliver dynamic tinted glass. Unlike traditional glass, with its advanced control system, SageGlass can tint or clear automatically based on the level of sunlight indoors, weather conditions outdoors, and the building’s heating and cooling system. SageGlass provides precise control over the amount of light and heat that enter a building, allowing optimization of natural light, solar glare reduction, and the ability to minimize heat build-up in a room.

By asking our core materials, like glazing, flooring and paint finishes, to do more, we can enhance occupant comfort throughout our spaces without the need for complex, energy-consuming systems. These multifunctional products can help us improve well-being, use technology to simplify our lives and help reduce our impact on the planet simply by making the right choice during the design specification process.

Top image courtesy of SageGlass; photograph by ©Adrien Barakat

Feeling inspired? Gain major industry recognition from top architecture and design firms for your innovative product by entering Architizer’s A+Product Awards:

Start Submission

The clock is ticking, with a Extended Entry Deadline of February 23rd, 2024. Ensure your brand does not miss out this year!

The post Innovating in Industrial Design: Multipurpose Products That Seamlessly Blend Form and Function(s) appeared first on Journal.

One of the industry’s biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW > 

When we think about industry awards, it’s easy to view them as professional echo chambers, a closed forum in which peers pat each other on the back without making a real impression on the people who matter most — clients. What good is winning an award if the only people you impress are your competitors?

Now open for entries, the A+Product Awards seeks to break the building product industry out of this proverbial echo chamber, and has proven hugely successful in connecting the dots between building product brands and their most valuable target audience — namely, specifying architects.

Start Submission

The program does this in two key ways: Firstly, its jury is made up of practicing architects from some of the world’s most renowned firms. Secondly, Winners of the awards are celebrated across Architizer, reaching a global audience that includes thousands of design professionals from all over the world.

In this way, the winners of the A+Product Awards are chosen by architects, for architects — and it’s this differentiator that makes the program an essential part of many brands’ marketing plans each season.

Left: McDonald’s Headquarters by Studio O+A; right: Primo Orpilla; images courtesy Studio O+A

Reflecting on our recent A+Product Award winners, renowned architectural thought leaders from GLUCK+, PBDW Architects and Studio O+A highlighted the immense power that awards programs have in bringing together architects, building product manufacturers and leaders from the wider construction industry.

“Programs like the A+Product Awards help identify those brands that are thinking holistically about how design helps us in our daily lives,” said Primo Orpilla, Principal and CoFounder of San Francisco-based practice Studio O+A. “They showcase the latest thinking, and they group products together so architects can see the many different approaches to common problems.”

Left: Serena Losonczy; right: Cooke School & Institute by PBDW Architects; images courtesy PBDW Architects

Moments like this also serve to enhance the symbiotic relationship between brands and designers, a relationship that is essential in the production of good architecture in future. “For manufacturers, the A+Product Awards provides both recognition for design and motivation to excel against the competition,” reflected Serena Losonczy, Associate Partner at PBDW Architects. “For architects, it brings to our attention many innovative products that we otherwise may not have known about. Together, these result in better product design and better architecture.”

Meanwhile, Peter Gluck, Founding Principal at GLUCK+, emphasized the importance of the program in reframing the specification process in the mind of architects and their clients, encouraging them to prioritize the long term benefits of high quality products and materials over short term wins. “Award programs like this encourage the effort to seek the best rather than the urgent,” said Gluck.

Left: Tower Residence by GLUCK+; right: Peter Gluck; images courtesy GLUCK+

While recent years have come with unprecedented challenges for the building product industry, some things don’t change — Well thought-out designs, robust detailing and timeless materials are as crucial as ever to the creation of great architecture and interiors. Architects are increasingly aware that their best hope for a successful project stems from collaboration with the makers of high quality building products, those that have an intimate knowledge of materials and the fabrication processes behind them.

For this reason, Architizer’s A+Product Awards program acts as a creative benchmark for the industry. Each winning product earns a professional stamp of quality, and provides the world’s most innovative brands with the recognition their hard work deserves. Ultimately, architects know these are products and brands they can trust — and the class of 2024 will provide further inspiration to help them create better, more resilient buildings for generations to come.

If you are part of the team that creates, makes, designs or manufacturers building products, architectural materials, lighting or furniture, there’s still time to enter this year’s program. Submit your products for the A+Product Awards for a shot at global recognition, and a marketing package for your brand worth $20,000.

Enter the A+Product Awards

Pictured: A Brazilian Modernism-Infused Facade System by BELT • Metal Art+Design Studio, A+Product Awards Winner in the Architectural Design category.

The post The Excellence Factory: Why Architects Care About the A+Product Awards appeared first on Journal.

It’s time to celebrate what great architecture is made of: Architizer is thrilled to announce that the A+Product Awards is now open for entries! The A+Product Awards is the pinnacle of recognition for building products, materials, lighting and furniture worldwide. Makers of innovative products for architecture and interiors are invited to join us for a global celebration of design — and gain major industry recognition from top architecture and design firms!

The clock is ticking, with a Extended Entry Deadline of February 23rd, 2024. To ensure your brand does not miss out this year, hit the button below to get started:

Start Submission

What Makes the 2024 A+Product Awards Special?

The A+Product Awards offers an unparalleled opportunity for established and emerging brands alike to showcase their products on a global stage, where they’ll be evaluated by an esteemed panel of architects and design professionals from renowned firms around the world.

This year’s jury includes luminaries from architectural powerhouses such as Foster + Partners, AECOM, Olson Kundig, Gensler, Kohn Pedersen Fox, HDR and many more. Your products will be carefully reviewed by specifying architects, who will select the winning products based on three critical criteria: Aesthetics, Performance, and Impact.

The A+Product Awards judging process provides a guaranteed way to get your brand in front of the industry’s most influential figures, and have your products validated by designers who are trusted authorities in their field.

But that’s not all – here are three more compelling reasons why any brand with ambition should enter the A+Products Awards this year:

1. Be Part of the Inaugural “A+Product List”

New for 2024, we are proud to introduce the A+Product List. Following the extraordinary success of Architizer’s A+List for top architecture firms, this globally distributed editorial feature will serve as the definitive directory of the world’s best building product manufacturers. Each Winner of the A+Product Awards will have the exclusive opportunity to be featured in this prestigious list, showcasing your brand and products to a vast audience of specifying designers and architects, each one a potential client.

Thanks to Architizer’s trusted reputation among designers, the A+Product List will be a go-to resource for architects seeking the highest-quality building materials and products, year-round. The List will be published on Architizer.com and shared with more than 120,000 newsletter subscribers, as well as being promoted across Architizer’s social media channels, which boast a combined reach of more than 4.5 million followers!

Submit a Product

Past A+Product Awards Winners and Finalists; clockwise from top left: Goldi by Division Twelve; Alchemy Lux by Ceramiche Caesar; Plusminus by Vibia; Black Label Sustainable Lumber by Tropical Forest Products; TXTRsound Acoustical Metal Ceiling Cloud Panels by Rigidized® Metals Corporation; Mission Invisible by Karcher Design. See more Winners.

2. Take Part in a Global Public Vote and Increase Your Visibility

The A+Product Awards Public Vote is back and better than ever! Engage with tens of thousands of architects and design enthusiasts through our new and improved online voting interface. This year, every category provides two opportunities to win: The coveted Jury Award and the priceless Popular Choice Award.

Each Winner will take their place in the Architizer Winners’ Gallery, and receive an iconic custom-engraved trophy to exhibit at your next tradeshow. Don’t miss the chance to double your chances of success and enhance your brand’s reputation in the process!

3. Enter Diverse Award Categories for Every Product Type

With 2024 comes an array of diverse award categories to cater to all architectural components, from building envelopes and interior finishes to lighting and furniture. No matter what your brand manufacturers, there’s a place for you to shine. There are 39 A+Product Award Categories to choose from, covering all building product types:

• Façades, Cladding and Roofing
• Doors, Windows and Glazing
• Acoustic Products, Ceilings and Flooring
• Architectural and Decorative Lighting
• Bath and Kitchen Products
• Contract, Residential and Outdoor Furniture
• Smart Design and AEC Technology

In addition, the Best of the Year categories honor products at the top of their class, including awards for Sustainable Design, Innovation, Positive Impact, Health and Wellness, Flexible Design and more.

Explore Categories

Past A+Product Awards Winners and Finalists; clockwise from top left: Hemii by Luxxbox; Panama Rug by Armadillo; Double-Curved Channel Glass Walls by Bendheim; Shaal by Arper; MetaMetal by Pure + FreeForm; Crescent by Yellow Goat Design. See more Winners.

Don’t Miss Out: Submit Your Products Today

The 2024 A+Product Awards are now open for submissions, and we encourage you to get started right away.

For all the details about this year’s A+Product Awards, including FAQs, fees, deadlines, and eligibility guidelines, visit our comprehensive About pages. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at productawards@architizer.com.

We extend our best wishes to all brands participating in this year’s A+Product Awards. We can’t wait to share your exceptional work with the world and help you connect with the global architecture and design community!

Start Submission

The post Call for Entries: Submit Your Top Building Products for the 2024 A+Product Awards! appeared first on Journal.