KIDP Announces List of
659 GD Mark Products

LG Electronics' "Art DIOS French Refrigerator"wins the 2006 Good Design Presidential Award

LG Electronics' "Art DIOS French Refrigerator'has grabbed the coveted 2006 Good Design (GD) Presidential Award for leading "intelligent trends"of home appliances through grafting art.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP) unveiled a list of 659 GD mark products from 335 companies and 63 GD prize winners from 33 companies on Dec. 8.
The 2006 GD Prime Minister Award went to KTF's "KTF Vital Dot & Vital Pattern"in the communication category. Samsung E&C received the 2006 Good Design National Procurement Service Award for "Raemian"ubiquitous devices (06-Human-Tech) and 2006 Good Design KIDP Award for "Raemian Geumgang Chosimwon."Samsung Construction president Lee Sang-dae won the 2006 Korea Design Management Presidential Award.KTF President Cho Young-chu received the 2006 Korea Design Management Prime Minister's Award.
GS E&C won the 2006 GD Prime Minister Award for "Yangju Xi (GS apartment brand) Yeoul Madang (Garden) in the architectural design category.
KIDP said out of 1,461 entities submitted by 559 companies, 659 items from 335 companies were granted a Good Design mark.
For designating GD mark products, three categories - communication design, fashion design and architecture/ environment design - are added to the Good Design system, which was introduced in 1985. The GD mark system has now expanded to cover all living spheres, flood, clothing and housing, a move designed to have an big impact on an awareness toward design among the general public. Heated competition in the first architecture/environment design category indicates a trend that "design fever"will likely prevail in all construction structures, including apartments.
Thirty-one GD prize winners or 51 percent come from electric/electronics and telecom devices and equipment, taking the lead in the product design industry, while five award winners or 5 percent belong to the architecture/environment category, showing a possibility of making public design a subject of social concern.
Expanded participation in the GD mark screening process by working-level and foreign designers have provided an opportunity to upgrade GD mark prizes to global standards.
Korea and Australia has agreed on mutual recognition between Korea GD and Australian Design Awards that goes into effect from this year, serving as an opportunity to facilitate Korean products'exploration of global markets.
The system to honor products with excellent designs with the Good Design mark is designed to enhance the credibility of products in the minds of consumers. Good Design mark products are given preferential treatment in the case of Public Procurement Service's screening products being supplied to public organizations and application of borrowing the Industry Technology Development Fund for undertaking design innovation development projects.
GD mark award winners have been given assistance in participation in such domestic and international design exhibitions as KES 2006 and Design Korea 2006 Shanghai. In particular, GD mark products form SMEs are allowed the right to be displayed on the "design Gallery"to be opened at the COEX Mall in the late December.
A total of 13,358 products were submitted for gaining the GD mark for the 22 years from 1985 to 2006, and out of the total, 5,369 were given the GD mark, recording the competition rate of about 40 percent.
Oh Keun-jae, former professor of Hongik University and concurrently chairman of the GD mark screening committee, commented that LG Electronics' 'Art DIOS French Refrigerator,'a combination between art work and home appliance, has been praised for its design designed to upgrade the value of the home appliance through innovative treatment of materials and expressions.
The Prime Minister Award winner, GS E&C's "yangju Xi Yeoul Madang"has been cited for its design - formation of green work harmonizing with surrounding environment by using environment-friendly materials in consideration of users'needs. nw

MOCIE Vice Minister Lee Won-gul and winners of the 2006 Design Management Grand Awards pose during the 2006 Korea Design Promotion Rally.Samsung Construction President Lee Sang-dae and KTF President Cho Young-chu were among the winners.

MOCIE Vice Minister Lee won-gul delivers a speech during the 2006 Korea Design Promotion Rally

Lee Il-kyoo, president of the Korea Institute of Design Promotion(KIDP)

LG Electronics' 'Art DIOS French Refrigerator,'the winner of the 2006 GD Presidential Award

KTF'a "KTF Vital Dot & Vital Pattern,"the winner of the 2006 GD Prime Minister's Award in the communication design category

GS E&C's "yangju Xi Yeoul Madang,"the winner of the 2006 GD Prime Minster's Award in the architectural design category

GS E&C's Xi kiosk & master keys

Samsung Electronics'DVD home theater system (HT-XQ100), winner of the 2006 MOCIE Minister Award

Samsung E&C's Raemian ubiquitous device