Every year, the internationally renowned design competition selects the best product designs in the world. In order to participate, manufacturers and designers register their products online and submit the original product for the judging process. The Red Dot jury, composed of international experts, assesses each product according to defined criteria and only bestows awards on the best.

Characteristic for the Red Dot Award, Product Design, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2015, is the submission of original products of all sizes and from all industries.

The Red Dot Award is organised by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany. With more than 17,000 entries in 2015 alone, it is one of the largest and most recognised design competitions in the world.

It was in 1955 that a jury convened for the first time to assess the best designs of the day. The name and brand of the award were developed in the 1990s by Red Dot CEO, Professor Dr Peter Zec. Since then the sought-after Red Dot is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality.

In 2014 the AKE SuperSilent special saw blade won a Red Dot Award. The concept works without gullets and thus reduces the sawing noise to room volume. This design allows for cut-free installation and removal of the blade without gloves.

Sawdust is not collected in large recesses on the outer edge of the saw blade but rather in the chip-belt, which runs along both sides of the blade edge. The circular saw blade uses diamond instead of carbide as a cutting material. In combination with the newly developed MicroGeo tooth shape, tiny teeth suffice for an excellent cutting result.

The jury noted: “The SuperSilent saw blade, with its particularly fine teeth, is very safe to use, provides cutting precision and looks elegant at the same time”.

In 2015 a Red Dot Award was granted to Julius Blum GmbH, Austria for the Tip-on Blumotion – a motion technology that facilitates convenient opening of handleless fronts. It involves a mechanical solution, which combines two functions – easy opening with one touch (Tip-on) and dampened, quiet closing (Blumotion).

In spite of its minimum front gap of only 2.5 mm, doors and drawers can be reliably opened. The gap alignment can be adjusted accurately due to four-dimensional setting options. The jury noted that: “Tip-on Blumotion technology increases options for the furniture industry in a logical manner and is characterised by its precise functionality”.

Also in 2015, a Red Dot Award was given to Julius Blum GmbH, Austria for the Aventos HK-XS lift system – a compact fitting, which can be combined with various materials and front thicknesses of stay lifts in high and top cabinets.

Last but not least, in 2015, a Red Dot Award was conferred on Häfele GmbH & Co KG, Germany for the Free-Series flap fittings.

The flap fitting family Free is a new, independent family of brackets, which is modular in design and flexible in use. The Free series, from the viewpoint of design, is characterised by compact construction and, with Free flap, Free fold, Free up und Free swing, covers all conventional types of openings with flaps for wall cabinets.

The fittings offer scope for design, can be used with various materials, are easily mounted, adjustable and, thanks to a multi-positioning stop function, they are convenient to operate. The jury noted: “The Free flap fittings convince due to their functional, space saving design and convenient method of mounting as well as their ease of movement”.