Red Dot Product Design Award 2005
Video Networks
Ltd (VNL) is proud to have been awarded a prestigious
Red Dot Product Design Award 2005 for their latest
generation of set top box. VNL trade under the
HomeChoice
brand.
(click here to read the award)
The design for the set top box was conceived
by VNL’s in house design studio. The job of turning
the concept into a manufacturing reality was out
sourced to Contact Design Ltd. VNL has worked with
Contact Design on a number of projects and was
confident that their mechanical empathy and lateral
thinking would ensure that the design would not be
compromised in the move to manufacturing.
VNL's
design required an all metal construction, with 3mm
solid brushed aluminium facia to make an uncomplicated
yet bold statement, reflecting the technological
aspect of VNL's service whilst also echoing its
simplicity of use. The entire construction, developed
by Contact Design, reflects this technology and
simplicity, requiring only two fastenings to lock the
entire casing together.
The
key to the look of the set top box is a square white
plastic central display back lit by blue LEDs when the
box is on. The unique feature of this display is the
integration of the infrared receiver and
photosensitive blue light display into a single unit -
which retains brightness in daylight conditions but
dims as the ambient light reduces, avoiding irritation
to the viewer. Contact Design's construction solution
to our design challenge was again simple and
effective.
Even the
press liked it!
"The
HomeChoice box looks as though it was hewn from spare
metal left over when the contractors knocked up the
Gates of Heaven. Beautifully simple."
‘In the looks department, HomeChoice is Cinderella to
Sky+’s ugly sister.’
Stuff, December 2004
Contact
Design’s professionalism ensured that design and
manufacturing data was prepared in the most suitable
format to allow the fastest route to market, and right
first time.
All those associated with the design of this product
should be rightly proud of their involvement.
Marco Guisti
Creative Director - Video Networks Ltd
