Man, we needed some good news at the end of last year. And the GOOD DESIGN Awards delivered. Aura’s Smith Frame collection was awarded a 2020 GOOD DESIGN Award in the Electronics section. Check it out here.
The GOOD DESIGN Awards have been around for 70 years and is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards programs in the design community. They judge submissions by several factors, including: quality of design, technology, form, materials, construction, concept, function, utility, energy efficiency, sensitivity to the environment, AND aesthetics, all of which must go beyond ordinary consumer products and graphics.
The Smith checked all the boxes with its incredibly intricate design, high-resolution display, AI-powered photo-sharing technology, and energy-friendly operations (e.g. adjusting the display to its environment’s light). Not only does it have all the superior design features, but the judges also found it fulfilled its function of displaying treasured memories and connecting loved ones beautifully.
Here’s what the Aura design team had to say about it:
Scott Chapps, Chief Creative Officer at Aura:
“Our vision for the Smith frame was to illustrate the importance of design, materials, and technical craftsmanship to create a truly sophisticated product. With very little compromise from the original design concept, Smith is an indication of our creative capabilities in complex hardware development. It’s a benchmark for many technical boundaries that will influence the next generation of Aura products.”
Scott Milstein, Aura’s Head of Product Development & Manufacturing:
“Achieving the beauty and simplicity of the Smith frame design was a yearlong labor of love. Countless complex engineering and finishing challenges pushed our team to employ a range of highly unique manufacturing techniques to bring this truly remarkable product to life.”
Congratulations, team! We’re in good company too -- you can see the full list of 2020 winners here. Read about the inspiration behind the Smith frame and more in our interview with Scott Chapps.