gia global innovation awards

a pre-show peek of the inspired home show 2022.

Mar 5, 2022

this is my 11th year as a gia innovations award judge. today was judgement day to scrutinize five product design finalists in 10 categories. that meant a visit to mccormick place and an attempt at a pre-show peek of this year’s the inspired home‘s 2022 show. i didn’t go into the great halls however because i didn’t bring a hard hat. the photos give an idea of a very different presentation, a refreshing new experience.

the global innovation awards (gia) program was launched in january 2000 with the goal of recognizing and honoring excellence in home and housewares retailing on a global scale. in the 20 years since its inception, the gia program has expanded to recognize innovation in four different facets of home and housewares excellence: retail excellence, product design, booth design, and student design. the photo below may be the display case build-out where the winners will reside. in 2022 over 250 entries were viewed by 20 judges to select the 2022 gia awards winners:

discover design is seven years old in 2022 and is a destination of more than 100 design-centric exhibitors from around the world. the confines includes the discover design gallery – the photo below may be the display case build-out featuring the products submitted for the gia awards; and design debut, an incubator program within discover design, featuring new companies.

on the way out after judging and in the great concourse we find, well not really, you have to pass the pantone booth to get to the great halls or the buses. this venue is way better than their previous location in the lakeside building. here, though the architecture is a bit busy, an abundant amount of natural ambient light means a correct color presentation, a rarity seldom realized in a trade show environment.

this sunday leatrice eiseman, director of the pantone color institute will speak sunday – check your inspired home app for more details. leatrice is also the creator of the annual pantone color forecasts illustrated in the colorwatch display. color is such a vital component to good design, we recommend taking this opportunity to hear what this highly esteemed color expert has to say.

i also met this year’s student winners. this category is one of my favorite happenings and manages to showoff amazing talent and their winning effort.

below > we see the six winners and in the foreground vicki montranga. i’ve known her for over 20 years. vicki is a chicago product design historian without peer. she’s also an advisor to the chicago design archive. she conceived the student competition in 1993 and 2022 is the 29th year. i’m told there’s a box of anniversary booklets on site and one has my name on it. please do not miss this special opportunity to hear their presentations and share ideas of what does good design mean.

below > les mendelson, founder of umbra, said these student competitions are the future of design. he shared his story of his company’s history and had two of his design managers do a walk-thru of the students booth.

below > evan dash, left, founder of storebound, outlined his company’s history and design determination. dash and mendelson have both hired past winners of iha’s competition. dash hired an arizona state student who then grew the design department and manages production in china.

formerly the international home + housewares show, the inspired home show is north america’s largest housewares trade show! we connect not only buyer to seller, but also product to lifestyle and the industry to the consumer mindset. every year, more than 52,000 home and housewares professionals from more than 130 countries converge upon chicago to discover new housewares products and industry trends, meet face-to-face with executives from top retail and manufacturer brands, and gain the insights, leads and exposure to jump-start a successful year. the show is owned and operated by the international housewares association (iha), which has a rich history within the housewares industry dating back more than 80 years.

@TIH_Show #TIHS22 #giaAwards @DesignApplause #DesignApplause @pantone @umbra #design #productdesign #designinspiration #modernkitchen #modernhome #homedesign #kitchendesign #cooking

gia global innovation awards honoring product design excellence. international housewares show 2018.

Mar 11, 2018

lockdown cut-proof bag by travelon / home organization + storage / booth n6031

with features like safetex cut-proof strap and body material, sold brass lock and one-piece construction valuables are safe when on-the-go.

safetex material cannot be cut with knives, scissors or razor – nor can bolt cutters cut the strap. lockdown bags come in two sizes, one for essential items the other for larger iPad size items.

theft is a crime of opportunity and the travelon¨ anti-theft lockdown bag stops theft.

below> fledge – flip edge cutting board by dreamfarm / kitchen hand tools + cutlery / booth n8107

fledge is the world’s best cutting board. fledge has unique flip up edges that prevent food from falling or rolling off the sides when being transported to a pot, bowl or table for serving. both fledge and the double-sized big fledge (coming soon) have non-slip rubber feet and knife-friendly patterns on both sides, and a generous juice groove for carving on the underside. won’t warp in the dishwasher.

below> flex by joseph joseph / bath + personal care / booth n7900

the concept behind the head is appearing in a variety of products. what makes this product standout is the unique head design and elegant packaging that easily stores with its minimal footprint, even if you don’t have a utility storage room.

conventional toilet brushes hold dirt and liquid, making them messy and unhygienic to use and clean. also their bristles can distort and wear, meaning they need to be replaced regularly. flex™ is an innovative toilet brush designed to solve all these problems.

it features a flexible, d-shaped head that reaches all areas, even under the rim. it has widely spaced bristles that prevent dirt clogging, allowing liquid to drain quickly and minimising drips between cleaning and storing.

it also has durable bristles and comes with a slimline holder for neat storage.

below> ta da over the sink drying mat by jascor housewares / cleaning / booth s1217

dry your dishes right where you wash them. made with fda-approved silicone and reinforced with stainless steel rods, this simple, sturdy mat allows runoff from freshly washed items to drip directly into the sink. you can even use it to rinse and drain fruits and vegetables. roll up and put away when you’re done. that’s how to-do becomes ta-da.

below> sensor mirror compact by simplehuman / personal electrics / booth n7735

a simple concept tweak creates a must-have travel companion. tru-lux light system simulates natural sunlight, allowing you to see full color variation, so you’ll know when your makeup is color-correct and flawless. the 3x magnification gives you a hyper-clear view of every detail. sensor turns light on automatically when taken out of the sensor pouch, and turns it off when put back in. the power button lets you toggle between 650 or 300 lux dual brightness settings. a fold-out ring handle is secure and comfortable in your hand, or can be used as a stand for hands-free viewing — and it comes with an attached button strap that keeps the mirror secure inside the pouch. the mirror is rechargeable, and one charge lasts up to 1 week with typical daily usage.

below> titan – trash compactor by joseph joseph / household + home electrics / booth n7900

titan is an innovative waste solution with a patented, hygienic compaction system. this allows it to hold up to three times more than a similar-sized household bin. compacting your rubbish means you empty your bin less often and use fewer liners. titan also features an anti-tear design that won’t stretch or pinch the liner and a replaceable odour filter to neutralise any unpleasant smells.

below> cuisnart venture portable gas grill submitted by the fulham group / cook + bakeware / booth s1672

the cuisinart venture portable gas grill is not your average “tailgating” gas grill. the sleek and modern aesthetic, with store ‘n go design inspires adventure and helps couples enjoy those intimate moments. perfect for the date night picnic or small group gatherings. the wooden lid doubles as a chopping board; simply remove the cutting board from the top to prepare your meal or use it for cheese and crackers to enjoy while sipping a glass of wine. the grill grates are porcelain enameled cast iron, giving off more heat and holds heat longer than steel. a simple, complete, and compact portable grilling system.

below> jura s8 / kitchen electrics / booth L11102

below> globe watering can – jet and shower watering can by eva solo / home décor * gifts / booth8324

globe watering can allows the user to select between a jet watering or shower watering with a simple turn of the spout. practical hole in the side for easy filling. perfectly balanced for easy pouring.

below> messy mutts travel water bottle and bowl by jascor / pets/ booth s1217

perfect for your thirsty mutt on the go! just fold up the silicone bowl and press the quick release button. unused water drains back into the 700ml or 24 oz stainless steel bottle after use and the bowl folds back over the bottle for easy portability.

care > disassemble and hand wash with warm water and mild soap or place in dishwasher. hand wash recommended. do not microwave. silicone bowl can be removed from cap. bpa and pvc free.

below> cubit by plott / smart home products / booth L14000

cubit is the first tool that can bring your dimensional data to your smart device and also extract it back into the real world after you have manipulated it. this means that after you measure your space and arrange it to your liking in the app, cubit will then guide you to make your design a reality bringing your project to life. editor’s and gia judge note: with regard to category strength the smart home products category contained quite a few exceptional products and a shame we couldn’t have had a tie amongst two or three products.

below> thawthat! deluxe by that! inventions / kitchenware / booth n8303

thawthat! deluxe defrosts meat right on the countertop without any external heat or power source for a gentle, even thaw in less than half the time of traditional countertop thawing.

features >
dissipates cold and draws ambient warmth to the surface / eco-friendly / rugged anodized aluminum, abs, polypropylene construction / cleaner than soaking and gentler than microwaving / faster (up to 2.5x) than traditional countertop thawing / concave surface directs melted liquid / green – no wires or batteries required / hand wash recommended

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below> collida by promeco / tabletop / booth s3277

promeco has created tempcontrol® technology which keeps dinnerware warm or cold for more than 30 minutes.

this technology is presented via the calido onyx black dinner plate by sanodegusto, offering the perfect backdrop for a culinary tour de force. the anti-scratch structure ensures multiple use without devaluing the design. moreover, the integrated revolutionary tempcontrol® technology makes sure any dish stays warm for at least 30 minutes. sanodegusto is a division of promeco.

[ gia global innovation awards – product design ] the iha innovation awards have honored the best in product design at the international home + housewares show for the past four years. the award’s name and tagline have now changed to the iha global innovation awards (gia), honoring product design excellence.

all products entered into the new product showcase will have a chance at winning. innovative products will be judged by a panel of experts that includes designers, retailers and news media.

product finalists selected by the judges were announced prior to the show and will be featured in each buyers club and at the iha global innovation awards display in the lakeside center lobby.

editor’s note: ron kovach has been a judge since inception of this award.