Excellence in design, innovation and practicality?

The Home Beautiful Product Of the Year Awards 2009 is on again and recognises and rewards outstanding examples of outstanding creativity.

If these elements capture the essence of one or more of your products then you are eligible to enter!

The Product of the Year Awards recognises and rewards innovative design that successfully encompasses a strong design aesthetic and practical functionality.

Winners receive significant exposure in Home Beautiful magazine, as well as an Australian Designer of the Year profile and magazine review of all award winners together with invaluable TV exposure* to announce the winners from each category! 

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2009 AWARDS INCLUDE:

• Best Product in each category: one from each of the 10 categories outlined below
• Product of the Year Award: Overall Best Product
• Australian Designer of the Year: Recognising Excellence in Design for a Body of Work.

Products will be judged by leaders from the design industry, Home Beautiful editor Wendy Moore, and an Australian media personality.

The main focus of the Product Of the Year 2009 awards is to reward inventive products that utilise:
1 Design: How does the design blend function and form? What is the design inspiration? What stands out about the design? What materials are used? Does it have sustainability features? Is it designed for longevity? Is it value for money?

2 Innovation: How does the product break new ground? What stands out about the materials used or the manufacturing process? Does it stand out from similar products in the market?

3 Practicality: Is the product easy to use? Is it useful, helpful and practical?

Timings
Competition opens: 15th June
Competition closes: 3rd August
Finalists selected: 10th August
Winners selected: w/c 24th August
Winners revealed: In magazine, on sale 12th October (Home Beautiful, November issue), and on The Morning Show*

*Pending scheduling with The Morning Show

Open to decorative homewares with a superior design aesthetic. Accessories must have a functional purpose and lots of 'wow'! Eligible products include: vases, magazine racks, kitchen and bar utensils, coat racks and decorative objects.

Furniture
Open to furniture designed to enhance the home. Quality workmanship and a considered use of materials are imperative. We're looking for furniture that balances form and function. Eligible products include: tables, storage systems, room dividers, desks and beds.

Walls & floors
Open to wall treatments and floor coverings. Products will be judged on the innovation of the material and, most importantly, the aesthetic value. Eligible products include: wallpaper, wall decals (stickers), paint, rugs and carpet.

Textiles
Open to all fabrics used in home decoration. We're looking for stand-out texture, pattern or colour, which is enduring both in design and quality. Eligible fabrics include (but are not limited to): curtains, upholstery, and cushions and wall hangings.

Home appliances
Open to all appliances. We're looking for products with a sexy design appeal that improve the way we live, that are easy to use and address current energy concerns while breaking new ground. Eligible products include: kitchen benchtop appliances, large kitchen appliances, laundry appliances, airconditioners and cleaning appliances.

Seating
This category is open to all forms of indoor seating. Products should offer the highest level of comfort, while pushing the boundaries of design to offer something new and relevant to the home and homeowner. Eligible products include: stools, dining chairs, armchairs, sofas and ottomans.

Lighting
Open to all interior lights and lighting systems. We're after lights that steal the show with innovative design, interesting use of material/s and effect on a space. Eligible products include: pendant lights, lamps, up-lights, tracking and decorative systems.

Tabletop
Open to all products designed to sit on the dining table. Products in this category must be innovative and have a high design standard. Eligible products include: cutlery, dinnerware and napery.

Bathroom design
Open to bathroomware with a strong design focus. The bathroom is an increasingly important area for pampering – we're looking for products to evoke this feeling through design. Eligible products include: tapware, showerheads, vanity units, basins, storage cabinets and baths.

Outdoor living
Open to all outdoor furniture and accessories. Products must be designed to withstand environmental factors, relevant to the Australian lifestyle and enhance our time outdoors. Eligible products include: sun loungers, deckchairs, outdoor tables and chairs, barbecues and shade options.

If your product was launched on the Australian market between July 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009 then it is eligible to enter Product of the Year 2009.

Enter by emailing your answers to the questions below to: productoftheyear2009@pacificmags.com.au by no later than 5pm August 3, 2009.


EMAIL TITLE: Company/Designer name + Name of product

1. Name of product
2. Designer
3. Company Name
4. Phone number
5. Email
6. Description of your product answering key criteria in design, innovation and practicality (maximum 500 words)
7. Product category (please choose from one below)
  - Home Accessories Design
  - Furniture
  - Walls & Floors
  - Textiles
  - Home Appliances
  - Seating
  - Lighting
  - Tabletop
  - Bathroom Design
  - Outdoor Living
8. Attach photo(s) to email

Photo(s) to be in JPG format. Maximum 4 images per entry, each image to be no larger than 2MB 

You can enter more than one product per category. If entering more than one product, each product is to be submitted on separate emails.

For Designer of the Year Award, designers will be judged on their body of work. No more than 10 designs can be submitted.

Entries close 5pm August 3, 2009.

Good luck and we look forward to celebrating excellence in design with you in 2009!