By Patrick Avenell

SYDNEY, NSW: The finalists for the 2011 Australian International Design Awards (AIDA) have been announced, with appliances and consumer electronics again dominating the Consumer category.

Organised and awarded by Good Design Australia, the AIDAs represent this highest local honour for product design. Brendan Gien, the MD of Good Design Australia, recruits the judges, which then dissect every aspect of the submitted products for consideration.

“Our esteemed judges spent a week assessing each entry against a common set of criteria focusing on innovation, form, function, quality, safety and sustainability,” Gien said. “Judges played with, tested, pulled apart and reassembled products to create an accurate user experience and understand each product’s design qualities.

“With a very high calibre entry field, the panel had a tough task choosing the Finalist products.”

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Amongst those nominated from the small appliance suppliers was Breville, which had three products chosen as finalists: the Tea Maker BTM800, the Kitchen Wizz Pro BFP800 and the Smart Grinder BCG800.

“We have a long and successful history with these awards, which now sees us compete with designs from around the world,” said design and innovation director Richard Hoare. “It’s always great to be recognised by a respected panel of industry peers and be rewarded for what is often a number of years work on a single new product launch.”

A finalist with two products is Fisher & Paykel, which was recognised for its CookSpace and DishDrawer Wide kitchen appliances.

“We have a 75-year heritage of innovation and design and we’ve always thought outside the square to come up with better kitchen and laundry appliance solutions," said F&P general manager, marketing, Peter Russell. "So it’s deeply rewarding when experts in the field agree that your products are something special. It’s also an affirmation that our products stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best that the world has to offer.”

Other finalists in the Consumer category include Blanco, Bosch, Dyson, Electrolux, Miele, Kenwood, Nespresso, Philips and Samsung.

The winners will be announced in Melbourne on 22 July 2011.