Futuring Design and Godrej & Boyce win the Design Excellence Award 2006.

The Eon range of frost-free refrigerators, designed by Futuring Design for Godrej & Boyce, won the Design Excellence Award 2006.

The range of refrigerators was designed especially to address the needs of the Indian consumer. With this in mind, the design team developed a number of innovations that addressed relevant Indian food habits for the first time. The Eon design combines relevant functionality with great looks. But the jury lauded the entry more for the innovations, and the fact that they were interestingly cued through design and made visible in the product.

" We were convinced that any technology or innovation that the new range offered needed to be relevant and tangible…something that could be seen and touched, and most importantly, believed," said a Futuring Design spokesperson.

Take the example of the new "Cool Shower" technology.
Everyone aware of food habits in India knows that Indians store food in large, heavy vessels. These, when placed in the refrigerator, tend to block the air vents located most commonly at the rear wall, greatly reducing cooling efficiency.
Eon's unique hollow shelf, distributes cool air effectively across the entire compartment. The shelves dock with the central air duct, creating a passage through which air can be showered over the entire cross section of the refrigerator, greatly improving cooling. The design is simple and keeps in mind factors of usability, cleaning, manufacture, etc. It is also highly communicative, helping consumers to easily visualize the benefit, which was a great hit with the jury.

The jury commended this design saying "…(the) innovative use of shelves for air distribution…was well thought out, reflected in the details and functionality."

The "BusinessWorld NID Design Excellence" awards are said to be the forum for recognizing the best in Indian design.