Yoko Inoue
ID Magazine, Decades of Rewarding Design
The quintessential publication on design showcases the winners of its 52nd Annual Design Review
Decades before the mainstream media began writing about design, ID magazine was on the beat. It has been covering the art, business, and culture of design for decades, winning five National Magazine Awards along the way.
Since 1954, ID has also run its Annual Design Review, a juried competition showcasing the best U.S. and international design in the areas of consumer products, furniture, equipment, environments, packaging, graphics, concepts, and interactive.
The awards for this year's review -- the 52nd -- have just been announced. Twenty-four designers, critics, curators, and educators reviewed more than 2,000 entries, distilling the submissions into 150 finalists ranked according to three award levels. Each jury panel was asked to pick a single Best of Category winner, followed by any number of Design Distinctions (ID's equivalent of a silver medal) and Honorable Mentions (ditto for bronze).
Across the categories, the winners (predictably) varied tremendously in both function and form. But there were some consistent themes. “Many of the submissions were more playful, using vibrant colors and friendlier forms,” says Jill Singer, ID managing editor. That held true for the furniture category -- which included a desk that is also a scooter, and the equipment category, which included softer, more approachable medical equipment.
For a full list of winners, visit ID's Web site.
Click here to see the designs that topped the competition, winning the coveted Best of Category title.
