Playing it smart: iF Design Award 2021

It’s a fine feeling: lying on a sunny beach somewhere and knowing that everything at home is as you left it. In the past, you may have asked your neighbour to keep an eye on things, today all you need is a quick glance at your smartphone. Thanks to smart technology, cameras, sensors, locks, lighting or blinds can be orchestrated remotely – sometimes to fool potential burglars into thinking someone is home, sometimes to prevent damage and sometimes to grant access via remote control.

The ‘Internet of Things’ will play an increasingly far-reaching role in our lives in the future, with devices communicating independently with each other and integrating themselves into everyday activities as smart assistants. Demand for smart home technology is growing in line with the range of products on offer. In a recent report, statistics and market research company Statista predicted that around twelve per cent of global households will own home automation devices this year. By 2025, an increase to over 21 per cent is expected, or in other words: 478.2 million users worldwide.

But which of these devices are really useful? A number of technical and design highlights have just been honoured with the iF Design Award 2021, and here we present nine of them in more detail.

Firstly – to return to the topic of security – there is the DCS-8635LH, a weatherproof outdoor surveillance camera from D-Link, with which no detail is missed thanks to WQHD resolution, a 270-degree lens and motorised panning function. The video recordings enable AI-based person and vehicle recognition and tracking. And it does so directly in the system instead of cloud-based, thereby addressing common privacy concerns. The camera also detects the sound of glass breaking, so if an intruder tries to enter the house, the system notifies the owner on their smartphone and activates the siren built into the camera.

But not all visitors are uninvited ones when you are away from home – the parcel carrier leaving something in the garage or children who’ve forgotten their house keys. With the help of the smart Linus door lock from the British manufacturer Yale, doors can be opened remotely from anywhere. Anyone renting out their flat on an online platform, for example, can also assign a virtual key with the help of Linus. As the owner, you keep track of who comes and goes and when, and whether the lock is actually locked. Linus is also, according to the manufacturer, compatible with voice assistants, lighting systems and hosting platforms.

Smart-home devices can provide reassurance beyond functions of keeping burglars at bay, however, they can also help prevent serious damage from occurring inside the home, too. Specialist in kitchen and bathroom fittings Hansgrohe offers its customers a warning system that sounds the alarm in the case of leaks. The Black Forest-based company received the iF Design Award in the ‘Communication’ category for their Hansgrohe Home App developed by Phoenix Design, which not only provides information in the event of an emergency, but also serves to control multi-sensory shower experiences with the RainTunes shower system and provides information about daily water consumption. In addition, the app can also be used to control products from other manufacturers, such as Philips Hue lighting.

In general, the bathroom is a space with big potential for smart applications: Another kitchen and bathroom expert, Grohe, received the iF Design Award in the product design category for its AquaSymphony Lite smart module system. The shower from the manufacturer's premium segment is integrated modularly into the ceiling. When planning, various shower functions – from rain showers to mist nozzles and waterfalls – can be added and even exchanged as needed. Shower preferences are set via the F-digital app on iOS or Android mobile devices.

With its Leader Smart Towel Rack towel dryer, developed for the Asian market, Haier shows how even towels can now be dried smartly. The device is mounted on the wall and when a towel is hung over a bar located on the lower side of the dryer, a sensor automatically detects whether it is damp or not and, if so, pulls it into the housing, where it is not only dried but also sterilised to prevent bacteria from multiplying.

Stopping the spread of germs is also the goal of the HealthProtect series from Swedish manufacturer Blueair. This air purifier delivers purified air around the clock, and thanks to HEPASilent Ultra technology, it does so particularly quietly and with a very good energy-performance ratio. For ease of use, the intuitively designed user interface recognises and signals when a filter change is required via an RFID chip integrated into the SmartFilter. Pre-filters are easy for the user to reach and cleaning progress can be tracked in real-time via the Blueair app and settings can be adjusted via smartphone, tablet or voice control. For the neutralisation of bacteria and viruses, the device uses plasma technology, similar to that of our next award winner.

The Core 400S True HEPA Smart Air Purifier from Levoit ensures clean air in rooms of up to 36 sqm. A laser particle sensor scans the ambient air quality and automatically adjusts the rotation speed of the fan – saving not only energy but also helping extend the life of the filter. The air quality and filter status can be displayed via a smartphone app and time presets can also be set.

Permanently installed in the ceiling, the KT-AC from Midea's premium brand COLMO also provides fresh air as an air conditioner designed especially for kitchens and bathrooms. ‘Unlike conventional air conditioners and PTC heating elements, KT-AC uses heat pump technology, which is more energy-saving and environmentally friendly,’ explains the manufacturer. A special feature is that the unit uses air from outside instead of air circulating inside, so soot, fumes and odours do not remain in the cycle. COLMO specialises in the development of AI-supported, interconnected household appliances. The air conditioner is designed for the Asian market.

Last but not least, a switch system from Belgian company Basalte. Its name, Fibonacci, is a reference to the device’s perfectly balanced proportions. Its elegant design may require a second glance for users to realise it’s connected to the intelligent home control system, as a proximity sensor triggers the backlighting of the laser-engraved fields. The switch system allows light, blinds and other applications to be operated by gently pressing the touch-sensitive buttons, depending on what has been pre-programmed. The temperature sensor communicates with the home automation system. And via multi-touch – touching several buttons at the same time – lights, for example, can be dimmed or favourite music played. Fibonacci is available in eleven premium finishes which make a luxurious interior design statement.

Who said the smart life can’t also be beautiful.

© Architonic