Electrolux, this month, presented its fourth Design Laboratory Award to Metin Kaplan, 21, from Istanbul Technical University, for his innovative concept called Nevale. Hundreds of design
students from across the world had entered this year'ss competition. They were challenged to seek food preservation and preparation solutions promoting healthy eating habits for the
consumer ten years out. Nevale was given the first prize for its ability to provide consumers with hot or cold homemade meals for take-away at any time of day. Metin Kaplan capitalized on
the idea that people would take healthy meals with them if they could find a way to keep warm food warm and cold food cold. He created a mobile food carrier that keeps food at the desired
temperature until it'ss time to be eaten. This, figured Kaplan, would promote healthy eating and reduce the need for fast-food restaurants.
Second Prize was awarded to Organic Cook designed by Brian Chuan Chai Law (National University of Singapore, Singapore)This oil free cooking, grilling and boiling concept uses infrared
and vacuum technology to bring healthy meals to the table in a fraction of the time traditional cooking would require.
Third Prize went to Altamirano Segovia (Universidad La Salle, Mexico) for his portable cook-top VESSTO. VESSTO, an anagram for Stirling (ST) Stove, is a cooker which combines physical
flexibility and use of renewable energy as a power source.
The top three were picked from nine finalists-three from Europe, three from Asia Pacific, and three from the Americas- who all submitted smart, innovative, and thoughtfully designed
solutions for healthy eating.
Other finalists included:
Fit Snack Joy by Yirong Yang, a Chinese design student
Hot Pod by German student Christian Jung
HydroSphere by London Royal College of Art student Kleber Puchaski
Nutry Print by Brazilian student Clayton Tolomiotti Rezende
SpiceHood by US student Jonathan Assaraf
Vege by Teeravit Hanharutaivan, a design student from Thailand
Other finalists included: Fit Snack Joy; Hot Pod; HydroSphere, Nutry Print, SpiceHood, VEGE
More details on the current as well as past editions of Design Lab can be found at http://www.electrolux.com/designlab
Press photography can be found at: http://www.electrolux.com/node23.aspxfolderid=20812
Notes to Editors:
About the winning concept
Kaplin'ss concept, which he termed Nevale, is based on the shape of an antique food container named sefertas, a type of layered food container that'ss been used in Middle Eastern
countries for centuries to carry homemade food. Kaplin'ss product is also built in layers, with a hood featuring a digital control screen, and holds up to four different hot and/or cold
meals. The digital display provides information on the food'ss storage conditions and can be programmed to launch an automated re-heating process at a specific time (for example at
lunch). Alternatively, for cold foods, Nevale maintains a perfect preservation temperature. Each layer works independently, ensuring both hot and cold food items can be transported
alongside each other.
Kaplan, 21, is an industrial design student at Istanbul Technical University. Hundreds of other design students from 37 countries around the world entered this year'ss competition in
March and were challenged to seek solutions that promote healthy eating habits for the 2016 consumer.
What the jury thought
When announcing the winner, the jury gave the following reasons:
Metin Kaplan'ss concept product is both historically and globally relevant and would promote a healthier lifestyle. It is a reinvented and modernized concept that easily could be used all
around the world because of its simplicity that recognizes people'ss eating habits. Kaplan'ss project was superbly executed: the design process is absolutely thorough and was supported by
a comprehensive research background. The product uses form, colors and technique in a new and creative way.
The concept not only solves a problem, but it also promotes a healthier lifestyle, says Henrik Otto, head of Electrolux design. That became very apparent as we were looking at the design
as a whole. The winning concept makes it easy to make healthy decisions that are good for you. I was also stunned by the fact that there is a link between the winning concept and the
second and third place winners.
Jury members judged the final selections based on their design and innovation, while taking functional, aesthetical and emotional aspects into account. Members of the jury included: The
Campana Brothers: Fernando (lawyer) and Humberto (architect) Campana (Brazil), Tetsuya Wakuda (Japan), Japanese-born internationally renowned chef, Constance Adams (USA), NASA Space
Architect, and Henrik Otto (Sweden), Head of Electrolux Global Design.
About Electrolux
Electrolux is a global leader in home appliances and appliances for professional use, selling more than 40 million products to customers in 150 countries every year. The company focuses
on innovations that are thoughtfully designed, based on extensive consumer insight, to meet the real needs of consumers and professionals. Electrolux products include refrigerators,
dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and cookers sold under esteemed brands such as Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux, Zanussi, Eureka and Frigidaire. In 2005, Electrolux had sales of
SEK 100 billion and 57,000 employees. For more information, visit http://www.electrolux.com/press
For high res images, backgrounders on Health and Obesity, Child Obesity, info on Jury Panel, Design at Electrolux, and releases on each of the finalists products please call:
Electrolux Media Hotline Susan Dean +44 118 9761190 or Sue Hargreaves +44 118 9760030