Imagery and a description of each concept in detail follows below.

“With every passing year the standard of entries to the Electrolux Design Lab contest becomes stronger.” say’s Henrik Otto, SVP of Global Design at Electrolux. ”The eight finalists have made it this far on account of their ability to recognise and respond to the challenge of the brief and should be congratulated for innovative solutions that consider efficient use of domestic space”.

September finals at 100% Design in London
Eight finalists will be invited to present their concept to a jury of expert designers on 23rd September at 100% Design. The jury will consider entries based on intuitive design, innovation and consumer insight when awarding the first prize of a six-month paid internship at an Electrolux global design centre and 5,000 Euros. A second prize of 3,000 Euros and third prize of 2,000 Euros are also on offer.

Global Finalists
The top 8 concepts have been chosen from designers based in eight different countries: Australia; China; USA; India, Iran Russia, France and Sweden.

1: The Kitchen Hideaway, Daniel Dobrogorsky, Australia
The Kitchen Hideaway is a virtual reality concept that allows the inhabitants of a communal building to imagine being in a kitchen, preparing a particular meal rather than having to actually do this for themselves. The thoughts of the user are then transmitted to robotic chefs within the building who then prepare the visualised meal in a real kitchen and with real ingredients. In effect, the headset replaces the need for kitchen appliances in individual dwellings, saving space through creative thinking.

2: The Snail, Peter Alwin, India – Micro Induction Heating
The Snail is a portable heating and cooking device based on magnetic induction processes. Such is the size and versatility of the Snail, it can be stuck directly on to a pot, a pan, a mug etc. to heat the contents.This reduces the amount of space required for conventional cooking whilst adding portability to the process. Powered by a high density sugar crystal battery, the Snail converts the energy from the sugar, heating up a coil to conduct the magnetic induction process to the utensil. Integrated sensors detect the food type being heated so as to automatically adjust the time and temperature. A simple touch sensitive display with interface helps to monitor the process.

3: Elements Modular Kitchen, Matthew Gilbride, USA – All-In-One Kitchen Shelving
Mathew Gilbride’s modular, wall-mounted appliance provides flexible modes of cooking, refrigeration, air conditioning, lighting, and environmental design whilst reducing space. The appliance draws power wirelessly through technology applied to the wall, which is supplemented through solar energy as required. Multiple units and surfaces automatically work together through wireless smart networking, whilst customisation is offered by being able to install the units as the user prefers.

4: Bio Robot Refrigerator, Yuriy Dmitriev, Russia – Cool, Green, Food Preservation
Four times smaller than a conventional refrigerator, the Bio Robot cools biopolymer gel through luminescence. Rather than shelves, the non sticky, odourless gel morphs around products to create a separate pod that suspends items for easy access. Without doors, draws and a motor 90% of the appliance is solely given over to its intended purpose. At the same time, all food, drink and cooled products are readily available, odours are contained, and items are kept individually at their optimal temperature by bio robots. The fridge is adaptable – it can be hung vertically, horizontally, and even on the ceiling. Different sizes and dimensions allow it to perfectly fit the accordant dwelling.

5: Clean Closet, Michael Edenius, Sweden – All in One Laundry Concept
The Clean Closet is essentially just that – a closet that cleans clothing. Textiles are scanned for impurities and cleaned accordingly with molecular technology that removes dirt and odours. The concept replaces the laundry basket, the wash­ing machine, and drying cabinet to save space and, as no water is used in the process, is kinder to the environment.

6: Dismount Washer, Lichen Guo, China – Wash & Go Laundry
Lichen Guo identifies the conventional washing machine as an unnecessary occupier of space. The Dismount Washer addresses this by combining the cleaning vessel and laundry basket in one. The dirty laundry capsule is placed on a wall mountable motor (or ‘energy stick’) which takes up very little space. The energy stick also dispenses steam to aid the cleansing process.

7: External Refrigerator, Nicolas Hubert, France – External Cooling
Two years in China provided the inspiration for Nicolas Hubert’s external refrigerator. Fixed directly on the outside wall of residential buildings, the concept is an elaboration on a way of life in northern China where food is kept on balconies in the winter to save space and energy. During cold seasons and at night, the low external temperatures are used to provide the right climate for items in the fridge. During warmer weather, the sun is used to transform light into energy through solar panels. Nicolas reflects Electrolux design values: the shape and finish are kept pure and simple so as to ensure easy integration with the external urban environment, whilst a range of colours and ambient lighting facilitate this further still.

8: Eco Cleaner, Ahi Andy Mohsen, Iran – the Portable, Compact Dishwasher
The Eco Cleaner is a portable dishwasher and composter that uses ultrasonic waves to ionise food and turn it in to reusable waste. Ahi Andy Mohsen’s concept is designed for use within the increasing numbers of single households and specifically meeting dual predictions: that future food will be supplied in capsule form (thus reducing the required size of vessels to prepare and eat from); and that there will be reduced time for household chores. The Eco Cleaner is simultaneously green and space efficient.

Group Shot – The Eight Electrolux Design Lab 2010 finalists together:

Imagery from the exhibition, an explainationary video and more detail about the Moléculaire follows.

Design Lab 2009 finalist Nico Kläber took the marriage of science and cooking to a new level with his ‘Moléculaire’ concept submission. The Moléculaire is influenced by chefs that scientifically and painstakingly experiment with food and their states to surprise and provoke fresh ideas in cooking. The Moléculaire simplifies a process that currently requires great skill, time and knowledge by acting as a cnc-food-printer for both professional and domestic kitchens. It autonomously prepares basic and otherwise difficult to create two and three dimensional parts of meals. It works with a layer by layer printing process using small particles from diverse ingredients. The aim of the concept is to provide simplicity, accuracy, repeatability and, of course, great tasting food!

According to the UN, by 2050 around 74% of the world’s population is expected to live in an urban environment. This will mean we need to be more space efficient. As a suggested solution, the Electrolux Design Team in Porcia, Italy, devised the SHINE concept appliances – true to the Electrolux design values of simplicity and purity, the concepts are able to be seemlesly integrated within the bathroom.

“We wanted to make the appliance look more like bathroom furniture than just a washing machine,” says Levente Szabo, lead designer for the SHINE concepts.”The form and high gloss finish reference porcelain and ceramics as normally found in the bathroom environment.”

There are two Shine washing machine concepts: one freestanding and one wall mounted. The free standing apliance can be integrated underneath a bathroom sink, while the wall mounted version is easily integrated with bathroom cupboards.

The importance of light: When developing the concepts, the Electrolux Design team thoroughly studied the bathroom environment and developed new design trends linked to materials, colors, lighting and ambiance.
“The bathroom is more of a relaxation room than a cleansing room,” explains Calum Armstrong, Electrolux Industrial Design Manager, Fabric Care. “The SHINE concepts are thoroughly connected to this with our intention to contribute to a therapeutic atmosphere, akin to Japanese culture.”

Around the doors of the Shine concepts there are integrated lights that act as ambient lighting and the product’s interface. The light ring around the door will visually communicate both the cycle time and the phase of the washing process. Once the washing cycle is started, the ring around the door will start to light up in a clockwise manner, reaching completion at the same time as the washing cycle.

“This not only creates nice ambient lighting, but also provides a more emotional connection to the washing cycle,” continues Calum.  “True to Scandinavian design, the SHINE concepts are sleekly designed, yet functional at the same time. The small display above the door has a smaller selection of programs, depending on the type of garments that need to be washed.”

Electrolux enhance the eight best concepts that are submitted to the contest every year, creating animations, news stories and physical models. These are then distributed globally and appear in magazines, newspapers and blogs, not to mention the physical tour of the models that see them profiled at museums, galleries and Electrolux events.  All of this provides  great exposure for anyone looking to take those first steps in the world as  a designer and should provide  an added incentive to enter the competition.

Electrolux Design Lab 2009 Winner 'Cocoon' by Rikard Herderstierna

80% of respondents to an Electrolux survey* at the DesignBoost** event in Stockholm on 12th February 2010,  embrace urbanisation as an opportunity to make the world a better place.

A delegation of 350+ designers, architects and global thinkers were in situ at the Swedish Museum of Architecture to participate in a series of seminars and workshops addressing the theme: ‘Designs for Life’. Amongst many issues discussed throughout the day, the role of design was explored as a way of ensuring that the opportunities afforded by increased urbanisation can be maximized.

“Whilst urbanisation is often seen as a negative force, population growth makes this inevitable and thus requires sensible and planned solutions.” say’s Henrik Otto, Senior Vice President for Design at Electrolux. “It is essential that this change is embraced for the greater good. Clever, intuitive design and progressive architecture working together can help ensure a better future; with smarter cities that help reduce negative environmental impact. In fact, far from being a bad thing, urbansiation, if managed correctly, can be a force for good, facilitating sensible energy consumption, minimizing infrastructural impact and allowing communities to grow together.”

The day also saw the launch of ‘Heart of the Home’ an exciting new Electrolux kitchen concept positioned as an integrated and smart solution for the domestic requirements of the future.

DesignBoost attendee’s included Ineke Hans, Karim Rashid, James Irvine and Ross Lovegrove as well as many other distinguished names in the world of design.

*Electrolux surveyed 75 people at DesignBoost asking them for their thoughts on urbanisation.

** DesignBoost Stockholm saw a number of world renowned designers come together to workshop and discuss the future of design. The overall theme of DesignBoost 2010 is ‘Design for Life’ which concerns the way we plan, produce, transport and consume.

Imagine never having to use pans or pots again, never having to worry whether the ingredients are fresh or never having to look up a recipe in a cook book. Heart of the Home is a thought provoking vision of the kitchen of the future – an integrated solution functioning as a kitchen table, cooking surface and bar all in one.

‘Heart of the Home’ is an intelligent, amorphous, interchangeable cooking surface that adapts to user needs. When using the Heart of the Home one simply places one’s ingredients on the surface. The appliance then analyses the ingredients and presents a list of suitable recipes. After deciding on a recipe, the user marks an area with his hand to determine how large the cooking area should be. Then the desired depth of the surface is created by simply pressing the hand against the malleable material. After achieving the required width and depth it’s just a matter of setting temperature and time with a simple touch of a finger.

Heart of the Home background

2008 was the year when, for the first time in history, more people were living in cities than in rural areas. According to the UN, the number of people living in urban areas will increase to a staggering 74 percent in 2050. As a reference, a mere 29 percent lived in cities in 1950. Electrolux has developed the Heart of the Home as an illustration of how we will lead our lives in 2050 based on a number of assumptions:

Social needs are important: Just as today, social activities will be an important part of our lives, especially when it comes to socialising with your family and friends. The increased level of high-tech support in everyday life will also mean that we will want to experience true and real values

We need simplified homes: In the limited available space of future mega cities, homes will need to be flexible and able to adjust according to circumstances. The appliances of the future will need to be integrated and adjustable. We won’t have room for a whole host of products each with their own specific function.

Societies need to be more effective: When 74 percent of 9 billion people live in cities, we have to adapt our way of living to the resources we have. We need new ways of recycling our waste. Energy efficient products and buildings will be more important than ever before.

We won’t make it without technology: Technology is important today, but it will be a matter of survival in 2050. Technological advances are a prerequisite for us being able to have a sustainable development, environmentally as well as socially.

Heart of the Home was presented for the first time at DesignBoost in Stockholm February 12th 2010.

Henrik Otto, Senior Vice President of Design at Electrolux will present an exciting new kitchen concept Friday 12 Feb 2010. The event is held at the DesignBoost forum at Arkitekturmuseet in Sweden and Henrik Otto is joined in the “Space for Life” seminar by Ineke Hans, Karim Rashid, James Irvine and Ross Lovegrove (amongst others). The discussion will revolve around the role of design in realising the potential benefits of increasing global urbanisation.

The Electrolux Rendez-vous is an all-in-one kitchen and entertaining space. A ‘virtual chef’ will help you cook on it, you can eat from it, store your food under it, and at the same time wirelessly recharge your phone/ipod/lap top. The Electrolux Rendez-vous is a design concept that puts the kitchen at the heart of the home.

Developed by the Electrolux design team the Rendez-vous responds to trends identified by the Electrolux insight team. It is understood that many consumers love to cook and entertain but are compromised by this in traditional homes by having to pop back and forth in to the kitchen to tend to meal preparations, taking them away from their guests. Thus, a perfect solution merges the cooking experience and entertaining space together. People are also looking for intuitive and instructive design, something that provides assistance in the kitchen to ensure that meals served are worthy of master chefs.

Electrolux Rendez-vous is the first interactive table that combines the living, eating, and entertaining space. The top of the table is a unique surface of energy that brings appliances to life without the use of a cable. The mobile phone or blender can be placed on the surface to charge or activate. The table top is also an inductive cooking system that uses sensor technology. Cooking zones are not predetermined; rather heat is dispensed wherever the pan is placed. Beneath the table are modular drawers that can hold a stove, refrigerator or almost any kitchen appliance that the consumer needs. Cooking becomes a social activity, with every thing you need all in one place. Programmed into the Rendez-vous, a virtual chef guides the user through the cooking process as required. The Rendez-vous breaks down barriers in the home, creating the perfect space for gathering, cooking and eating.

This concept is based on existing technology but it may take a while before it is all bought together in the way Electrolux envisage. What do you think about such a concept?