Adrian Mankovecký from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava in Slovakia is the winner of the Electrolux Design Lab 2011 competition. His Portable Spot Cleaner surpassed a field of 1,300 entries from over 50 countries.

A jury of award winning architects and designers selected the Electrolux Design Lab winner from eight finalists. The final took place at the Room Home Intelligence Conference London on September 7.

Portable Spot Cleaner
The Portable Spot Cleaner has two components. The user separates them, place on either side of the garment and choose the suitable cleaning program. Negative Ions and steam refresh clothing and remove stains. The cleaner is powered with a sugar crystal battery, and can be used practically anywhere in the world.

The jury was impressed by the Portable spot cleaner’s creative and insightful thinking. From the jury motivation: ”The Portable spot cleaner is built on a very solid consumer insight and it is highly relevant. It is an instant laundry device that has a positive impact on the environment by reducing consumption. Its usage and interaction are very intuitive. We all want one.”

Electrolux Design Lab 2010

Peter Alwin from National Institute of Design in India is the winner of the Electrolux Design Lab 2010 competition for inventing The Snail, the Micro Induction Heating and cooking device.

Rickard Hederstierna from Lund Institute of Technology in Sweden is the winner of the Electrolux Design Lab 2009 competition for inventing the Cocoon, the meat and fish maker. The winner was announced at finals in London on September 24, at 100% Design London, the UK’s leading architecture and design event.

“Cocoon” is a sustainable response to the world’s growing population and its desire to consume meat and fish. Similar to heating popcorn in a microwave, Cocoon prepares pre-packaged meat and fish dishes by heating muscle cells identified by radio frequency identification (RFID) signals. The signals detect the specific dish and then suggest the required cooking time. This process uses science to create food, lifting a burden on the planet by reducing the need for further intensive farming and fishing.

Design students from around the world created inspiring household appliance solutions for food preservation and storage that promote healthier eating habits for 2016.

•  The first-place winner was “Nevale” (above on the left), a food carrier designed in layers to allow consumers to store and carry up to four hot/cold meals. Food is maintained through a vacuum system, so soup can be on the menu, and it can be programmed to launch an automated reheating system at a specific time.
• Second place went to “Organic Cook” (center), an appliance that offers oil-free frying, grilling and boiling using infrared technology and vacuum cooking.
• “Vessto” (right), the third-place winner, uses renewable energy as a power source through a version of a Stirling Engine. The concept uses heat from the stove to expand and contract small quantities of gas inside the appliance, which powers the product.

• Fit-Snack-Joy (left) is a clever tabletop appliance that turns raw fruits and vegetables into cookies. It cleans, chops, bakes, seasons and molds fresh foods into fun, cookie-shaped snack, and even includes nutritional information on a variety of fruits and vegetables, so users can more easily find good combinations for healthy eating.
• “Hydrosphere” (center) is a small hydroponic greenhouse for growing fresh herbs and salads. A grow lamp is positioned in the middle bottom of a clear glass globe, enabling herbs and small fruits to grow around it, and it’s all powered by a solar panel.
• If the tabletop variety is too small, there’s “Vege” (right), an appliance that grows hydroponic vegetables in your kitchen, all year round, and it’s designed to hold up to 40 plants.

(ELUX) Electrolux today presented its third Design Lab Award to Airwash, a waterless washing unit. Students from leading schools of design in over 88 countries participated in the competition. Entries were received by more than 3,000 students in all continents, all competing to create the most outstanding new appliance concept for the home of 2020.

The winner, Airwash, is a waterless washing unit that utilizes negative ions, compressed air and deodorants to clean clothes. Its form is inspired by the waterfall, nature’s negative ion generator. Airwash eliminates the need for detergent and water. By using atmospheric air and negative ions – a natural cleansing agent – it fights dirt and bacteria with nature’s own weapon. It is designed to be placed anywhere in the home, not only in the laundry area. The simple user interface “floats” to wherever on the appliance the user wants.