GOOD DESIGN, an industrial design competition that dates back to 1950, is one of the world’s largest design competitions. A total of over 500 awards, presented by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design in conjunction with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, were given this year.
Several thousand leading manufacturers, industrial design offices, architects, graphic and packaging designers from over 50 nations submitted the best of their new product designs in categories ranging from furniture to flooring, appliances to automobiles and from electronics to medical devices. Armstrong was one of only three floor manufacturers to receive the award.
“This is a great honor that pays tribute to the high potential and creative talents of our entire Armstrong design team,” said Julianne Pierce, director, marketing & design. “Every day we challenge ourselves to answer the question, ‘What is Good Design?’ ... Linoleum, a flooring material that Armstrong helped to pioneer 100 years ago, continues to evolve into that rare, perfect combination of classic and contemporary design.”
More than a century ago, Armstrong ceased discarding post-industrial cork waste and began recycling it, first into corkboard insulation and soon afterwards into the green product on which its modern flooring business was built. Today, Armstrong linoleum is made of the same renewable raw ingredients as it was in the early 20th century, including cork powder, linseed oil, limestone, organic pigments and jute backing. The award-winning Marmorette line of commercial linoleum flooring with NATURCote represents this original standard with 67 tonal step options. Marmorette linoleum is also part of Armstrong's Continuum color and design system.
Laura Gemperline, senior designer, Armstrong, said the product can be used for a variety of products, including “soft, nature-inspired colors for health care interiors, sophisticated combinations for education and office environments or pop and sizzle for a retail space.”
All awarded products and graphics are published in the 2011-2012 GOOD DESIGN Yearbook by Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd. and available for purchase online. The program is coordinated by Lary L. Sommers, Director of Administration/Marketing of The Chicago Athenaeum and Kieran Conlon, Director/COO, The European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies based in Dublin, Ireland.
“The GOOD DESIGN Award is an amazing opportunity to understand the state of global design today,” said jury member Giorgio Borruso, principal, Giorgio Borruso Design, Marina Del Rey, Calif. “These innumerable projects come from many different geographical areas, brands, manufacturers and design offices. Through them, you can see how design is shaping our world, now as well as in the near future.”
