Sony Ericsson has announced its Xperia range of smartphones won four iF design awards 2012 during the ceremony held in Munich on 9th February.
The iF design awards are internationally recognised and honour the very best in product design.
In addition to the Xperia Ray, Xperia Mini Pro and Xperia Mix Walkman handsets all winning an award, the Xperia Active achieved the top level gold award.
Judging criteria for the 2012 product design awards includes the quality of the design and product finish, materials, green credentials, and functionality.
The Xperia Active was especially acclaimed for its design, winning the iF gold design award for its combination of durability and functionality. This smartphone boasts a scratch-resistant touch display that can be used even when your hands are wet or sweaty post-sport, and the screen can be easily viewed even in bright sunlight – designed for the sporty type, this phone soon became a perfect match for tennis star Maria Sharapova.
“The Xperia active smartphone reflects our commitment to offer handsets for active consumers with stunning design inside and out,” said Jeanna Kimbré, Director of Creative Product Design for Sony Ericsson.
This is Sony Ericsson’s first iF gold design award, given for a handset that Ralph Wiegmann, Managing Director of iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hannover, described as a “symbiosis of functionality and elegance”.
Three other phones in the Xperia family also triumphed at the awards ceremony, with the Ray recognised for its slim, palm-friendly design; the Mini Pro for its QWERTY keypad and “stylish, fresh and energetic look”; and the Mix Walkman for its interchangeable band that enables you to stamp your personality on your mobile.
Sony is hoping to continue the Xperia range’s success with its next-generation phones which come without the Ericsson moniker – starting with the Xperia S model.
Other winners of the iF design awards 2012 include Acer’s CloudMobile smartphone, which is set to make an appearance at this year’s MWC in Barcelona later this month.
Full press release:
Sony Ericsson Xperia Smartphones Receive 4 iF Design Awards
- Xperia active, Xperia ray, Xperia mini pro and Mix Walkman recognized for innovative design and high-end functionality
- The Xperia active smartphone receives highest level gold award
14 February 2012, London, UK – Sony Ericsson today announced it has received four 2012 iF product design awards in the telecommunications category. Xperia™ active received the highest level of recognition, the gold award. The iF jury’s comprehensive judging criteria included quality of design and finish, choice of materials, environmental impact and functionality. The ceremony took place in Munich, Germany on February 9.
“The Xperia active smartphone reflects our commitment to offer handsets for active consumers with stunning design inside and out,” said Jeanna Kimbré, Director of Creative Product Design for Sony Ericsson. “Design has always been a cornerstone of how we approach innovation and we will continue to build on this success with the new iconic design language introduced as part of our 2012 portfolio.”
Special gold recognition for Xperia active
The iF product design gold award recognizes the very best designs in the telecommunications industry. Xperia active boasts a scratch resistant touch display that can be used even when fingers are wet and boasts technology that enables the display to be seen in bright sunshine.
“We warmly congratulate Sony Ericsson for its first iF gold award. Xperia active is a very functional smartphone with a highly elegant design. Especially for sport users, it is the number one choice and the water and dust-resistance make it a very special product – a symbiosis of functionality and elegance,” said Ralph Wiegmann, Managing Director of iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hannover.
Sony Ericsson carefully chose the materials for Xperia active to ensure the best aesthetics were used and that the smartphone is durable, sustainable and functional. A sturdy aluminum frame surrounds and protects the display and embodies the essence of Xperia active – utilitarian elegance.
Xperia range – award winning designs
The iF awards recognized the wider Xperia range and awarded Xperia ray, Mix Walkman and Xperia mini pro with product design awards. The breadth of awards demonstrates Sony Ericsson’s commitment to create beautifully designed smartphones across the portfolio without sacrificing functionality.
- Xperia ray offers a slim, yet dynamic shape which can perfectly fit into the palm of a consumer’s hand. The aluminum sides give the product a premium expression and a positive tactile experience.
- The interchangeable band on Mix Walkman allows consumers to express themselves and their personality via their handset. The precision of the clean front surface together with the soft curvature on the back creates a product with a distinct feeling.
- Xperia mini pro boasts a QWERTY keyboard to enable fast typing and the fusion of exquisite lacquers, reflective metal and colorful accents create a stylish, fresh and energetic look.
The iF product design awards are an internationally recognized label for award-winning design and a symbol for outstanding achievements in design.
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