Award-winning design: HMI panel concept for household appliances from LEONHARD KURZ and Marquardt recognized at the ICONIC AWARDS: Interior Products 2024

Fürth/Germany, April 3, 2024: Household appliances are no longer just boring white goods. On the contrary, refrigerators, dishwashers, and the like are now part of the interior design and often shine with their individual, stylish designs. LEONHARD KURZ and project partner Marquardt show what sophisticated design combined with smart functions can look like with the innovative Human-Machine Interface panel concept (HMI panel), which was named a ‘Winner’ in the category Kitchen and Household at the coveted ICONIC AWARDS: Interior Products 2024.

“Every day, new technologies are moving into our homes and changing appliances as we know them. It is therefore imperative that the design also continues to evolve. At KURZ, we have created a concept in which intelligent functions are hidden behind an appealing surface. Being recognized at the ICONIC AWARDS: Interior Products 2024, shows that we are on the right track,” emphasizes Nick Wagner, Head of Business Area Plastic Decoration Sales and Marketing at KURZ.

Innovative functions are the result of concentrated expertise

The specialist for functional and decorative surfaces has combined its own expertise with that of mechatronics specialist Marquardt and KURZ subsidiary PolyIC, a manufacturer of touch sensors and printed electronics. The result is an innovative control panel concept for household appliances, which impresses, above all, with its wood-look surface design and is anything but standard. The continuous, connected surface of the panel is equipped with PolyIC touch sensors and Shy Tech functionality, and only comes to life when touched or approached. Thanks to this so-called dead front, the device blends seamlessly into the home as a design element. The integrated round display in the middle of the panel is complemented by a Marquardt rotary push button and thus contributes to intuitive operation of washing machines, dryers, etc.

Made with cutting-edge technology

With the help of In-Mold Decoration (IMD), customized back-lit icons, logos, or artworks can be easily integrated in just one work step and simultaneously equipped with touch sensors. In addition, the distinctive wood look is also a real experience in terms of its tactile texture. With the combination of form and function at the highest level, KURZ offers its customers the greatest possible freedom of design and a high degree of customization. “IMD offers a wide range of possibilities. Customized and touch-operated elements, for example, can be integrated in such a way that they are only visible when required. Colors, molds, and light can be used in a targeted manner to round off the desired design. And all of this can be implemented in just one work step - making it energy-efficient and cost-efficient,” explains Nick Wagner.

Product design award

Every year, the German Design Council presents the ICONIC AWARDS: Interior Products, for the smartest and most sustainable detail solutions in product design. The five-member international jury of experts pays attention to quality and innovative spirit. The evaluation is based on the criteria of ergonomics, functionality and usability, utility value, overall concept, design quality, degree of innovation, durability, marketing concept and marketing innovation, ecological compatibility, ecological quality, product esthetics, and safety and accessibility. The ICONIC AWARDS make up-and-coming brands visible with their design and offer a platform for companies in the furniture industry.