Sharp has received the 2024 Good Design Award (organized by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion Association) for the following four products in Japan. Additionally, the smartphone AQUOS R9 was selected as one of the top 100 outstanding designs, namely "Good Design Best 100."
Awarded Products:
・Smartphone AQUOS R9 [Selected for Good Design Best 100]
・Smartphone AQUOS wish4
・Digital full-color multifunction printer [BP-C131WD]
・Multi-layer robotic storage system
Sharp is committed to designing products, services, and solutions that not only focus on aesthetic beauty but also prioritize usability and functionality, creating a user experience that brings smiles to users.
The Good Design Award is a comprehensive design recommendation system established in 1957 in Japan.
■ Overview of Awarded Products:
Smartphone AQUOS R9 [Selected for Good Design Best 100]
The design expresses a sense of warmth and familiarity through the contrast between the straight lines of the body and the free curves of the camera section, which do not align vertically or horizontally. The colors are designed to match the user's attire and lifestyle scenes, aiming to become a favorite device that users want to carry with them at all times. In terms of functionality, it features a high-quality camera supervised by Leica Camera AG, a high-performance CPU for smooth operation, and large memory. It also includes a feature where generative AI transcribe a voicemail recording, summarizes its content and notifies the user via text.
Product Information:https://global.sharp/corporate/news/241029-h.html
Good Design Award Details: https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/23126
Smartphone AQUOS wish4
Similar to the AQUOS R9, this device was conceived with the desire to be a favorite alongside personal items like clothing and planners. Its striking design features the contrast between the straight lines of the body and the free curves surrounding the camera, as well as an impressive layout where the camera and light are not aligned vertically or horizontally. The device is made with approximately 60% recycled plastic and incorporates low-VOC paint*1, demonstrating environmental consideration. Additionally, it meets "MIL-STD-810H" standards for waterproof, dustproof, and shock-resistant performance*2, allowing for worry-free use in daily life.
*1: The paint contains reduced levels of volatile organic compounds, which are a cause of air pollution.
*2: Tests were conducted in accordance with 18 items of the U.S. Department of Defense procurement standard (MIL-STD-810H), including waterproofing (immersion), waterproofing (rain), dustproofing, dustproofing (wind-blown dust), shock resistance (drop), vibration resistance, humidity resistance, high-temperature storage (fixed), high-temperature storage (variable), high-temperature operation (fixed), high-temperature operation (variable), low-temperature operation, low-temperature storage, temperature durability (temperature shock), low-pressure storage, low-pressure operation, ice formation (condensation), and ice formation (freezing). The performance of this product is confirmed under testing conditions, and does not guarantee operation of all functions under every situation in actual use. Additionally, it does not guarantee that the product will remain undamaged and without failure under all impacts.
Product Information: https://global.sharp/corporate/news/241029-g.html
Good Design Award Details:https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/23129
Digital Full-Color Multifunction Printer [BP-C131WD]
This A4 digital full-color multifunction printer achieves the smallest footprint in its class*3. It combines a compact, cohesive design with comfortable operability, supporting work close to users. By redesigning the layout of the control panel, it allows for intuitive operation despite its small size. Furthermore, approximately 50% of the total resin used in the body (by weight) is made from recycled plastic, showing commitment to environmental sustainability. The use of gray recycled plastic aims for a design that harmonizes with various office environments.
*3 As of October 16, 2024, based on Sharp’s research of A4 color printing multifunction printers in the 30-35 pages per minute class sold in Japan.
Product Information: https://corporate.jp.sharp/news/241016-b.html (Japanese)
Good Design Award Details: https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/25332
Multi-Layer Robotic Storage System
This robotic storage system simplifies picking tasks in logistics warehouses and enhances storage capacity, addressing the labor shortage in the logistics industry. Automatic transport robots deliver product shelves or pallets to pickers, eliminating the need for workers to move to the shelves. Additionally, a projector installed at the picking station displays information such as the number of items to be picked, helping to reduce picking errors. The use of a lift for the automatic transport robots allows for a two-story product storage space, reducing dead space above the warehouse and expanding storage capacity.
System Information: https://corporate.jp.sharp/news/230214-a.html(Japanese)
Good Design Award Details: https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/24014
Recent major design award achievements can be viewed at the following URL.