Samsung, LG Electronics sweep honors at iF Design Awards 2024

Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. have taken home the most trophies among nominees at iF Design Awards 2024, setting a benchmark in design excellence.

The two South Korean tech giants won a combined 104 awards.

Samsung said on Thursday it received 75 awards at the International Forum (iF) Design Awards 2024, a prestigious German international design competition.

Among Samsung's honors were two top-honor Gold Awards – one for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margelia Edition and the other for the S95C OLED TV.

The iF Design Awards, which began in 1953 and organized by Germany's International Forum Design, are one of the world’s three major design awards, evaluating design differentiation and influence in nine categories, including product, packaging, communication, concept, interior, architecture, service design, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI).

Of Samsung's 75 awards, 38 were in the product category, while 16 were in the UI and UX categories. The company received 10 awards in the concept category, another 10 in the communication category, one in the package category and one in the service category.

TWO GOLD AWARDS

Analysts said Samsung's two Gold Awards underscore its innovative prowess, blending functionality with style and catering to the evolving needs of modern consumers.

The S95C OLED TV, praised for its ultra-thin profile (9.9 mm thick) and seamless wall-mounting capabilities, stood out among the entries.

Samsung said the Galaxy Z Flip5 Maison Margiela Edition packaging reflects Maison Margiela’s distinct unfinished style by featuring its stitching pattern in the center of the flap.

The entire body of the packaging resembles the type of archival sample box used in artisanal shops to store various fabric samples and threads. According to Samsung, the paper-based woven book cloth fabric covering the package’s exterior seamlessly blends the device with the haute couture aesthetic of Maison Margiela’s atelier.

These accolades reflect Samsung’s expertise in creating products that are not only technologically advanced but also aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly, analysts said.

Some other Samsung products that received iF Design Awards 2024 include Bespoke AI Combo, an all-in-one washer and dryer; its renewed design website; Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone; Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone; Samsung Music Frame, a framed speaker suitable for spaces of various lifestyles; Samsung Now+, which detects the user's TV viewing and provides useful information such as energy usage, SmartThings-compatible smart home security camera and weather information; and Q Symphony, which maximizes immersive experiences by using AI sound technology to analyze consumers’ viewing spaces.

“The design of consumer electronics plays a critical role in how users experience these products, and these awards signify the continual progress Samsung has made in this area,” said TM Roh, president and head of the Corporate Design Center at Samsung.

LG EXCELS WITH 29 AWARDS

LG Electronics, Samsung’s crosstown rival, also excelled at this year’s iF Design Awards, winning 29 honors – 22 in the product category and seven in the UX category.

The LG Signature Washer-Dryer, the first heat pump all-in-one washer-dryer in Korea, received awards in both the product and UX categories – a testament to its design excellence.

Other LG products that won awards in the product category include its customized trailer Bon Voyage; MicroLED TV; StandbyMe Go, a portable screen; LG CLOi, a service robot; and an electric charger.

In the UX category, LG’s Artcool air conditioner won the iF Design Award.

Write to Ye-Rin Choi at rambutan@hankyung.com


In-Soo Nam edited this article.