Yakima Wins International Product Design Award

Press release

Yakima AceO’Spades receives Red Dot award for product design excellence.

The Red Dot jury has made its decision:
After all of the products submitted were tested and assessed individually in the course of an evaluation process spanning several days, AceO’Spades, manufactured and designed by Yakima Australia, received the distinction “Red Dot”. The panel of experts awards the internationally recognised seal of quality only to products that win them over with their high design quality. AceO’Spades is an innovative solution for carrying long-handled equipment safely, securely and conveniently on the outside of your vehicle.

Its unique "pop & drop" handcuff-inspired mechanism revolutionises the carriage of awkward items such as shovels and oars. Its multifunctional ability is perfect for the working week and weekend play. AceO’Spades securely holds handles up to 30-55mm in diameter and is ideal for tools such as shovels, "D" handle spades, and oval handle axes, as well as sporting equipment such as paddles and oars.

What is also unique is that it is lockable with the addition of the “Same Key System” (SKS) locks to keep equipment secure. Inside each handcuff-inspired holder, the mechanism has rubber pads with cross directional ribs that stop the carried item from sliding out or twisting (e.g. an axe loaded in stays oriented how you want it). These rubber pads also provide cushioning and protection for the carried loads.

The Yakima AceO'Spades shovel holder works with Yakima LockN'Load roof rack crossbars, Platform and most competitor roof rack systems that feature an accessory T-slot.

Evaluation platform for good design
The Red Dot Award: Product Design has roots dating back as far as 1955 and determines the best products created each year. In 2018, designers and manufacturers from 59 countries submitted more
than 6,300 objects to the competition. True to the motto “In search of good design and innovation”, a jury comprising roughly 40 members assessed the products individually based on the original.

The strict judging criteria, which include level of innovation, functionality, formal quality, ergonomics and durability, provide a frame of reference which the jurors then complement with their own expertise.

A choice of three different distinctions are awarded: The Red Dot: Best of the Best is reserved for the best products in a category,
while the Red Dot is the distinction for high design quality. An Honourable Mention is awarded for a particularly well-executed aspect of design work.
“I want to congratulate the award winners sincerely on their wonderful success in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018. Success in the competition is proof of the good design quality of the
products and once again shows that companies are on the right path. When I speak about good design, I am referring to more than just an attractive product. All of the products are characterised by outstanding functionality. This demonstrates that the designers have understood their clients and their needs”, said Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award.

Celebration to honour the laureates
The winners will be celebrated at the Red Dot Gala on 9 July 2018. The Red Dot: Best of the Best laureates will receive their well-deserved trophies on stage at Essen’s opera house, the Aalto-
Theater, during the award ceremony. At the subsequent Designers’ Night in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen, the Red Dot laureates receive their certificates and can all celebrate their success together in the midst of the award-winning products, as the aftershow party is simultaneously the exhibition launch: For a four-week period, the special exhibition “Design on Stage – Winners Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018” will feature the award-winning innovations as part of the world’s largest exhibition of contemporary design. The day of the Red Dot Gala coincides with the publication of the Red Dot Design Yearbook 2018/2019, which showcases all of the year’s winning products. In addition, they can be found in the Online exhibition, the Red Dot App and on Red Dot 21 from that date.

About Yakima Australia
Yakima Australia is a company with a focus on producing world-leading automotive cargo management systems. Our designers and engineers are passionate about the outdoors. Yakima is dedicated to creating intuitive outdoor products that harness the spirit of adventure. Yakima is a world leader in designing and manufacturing automotive gear management and storage solutions.

About the Red Dot Design Award:
In order to appraise the diversity in the field of design in a professional manner, the Red Dot Design Award breaks down into the three disciplines of Red Dot Award: Product Design, Red Dot Award: Communication Design and Red Dot Award: Design Concept. The Red Dot Award is one of the world’s largest design competitions. In 1955, a jury convened for the first time to assess the best designs of the day. In the 1990s, Red Dot CEO Professor Dr. Peter Zec developed the name and brand of the award. Ever since the sought-after Red Dot award has been the revered international seal of outstanding design quality. Further information available at www.red-dot.de.

Press contact Yakima Australia:
Chris Lyons
Brand Director
17 Hinkler Court
Brendale QLD 4500
Telephone: +   +61 7 3050 1200
Chris.lyons@yakima.com.au
www.yakima.com.au

Press contact at Red Dot:
Julia Hesse
Junior PR Manager
Red Dot GmbH & Co. KG
Gelsenkirchener Str. 181
45309 Essen, Germany
Telephone: +49 201 30104–58
j.hesse@red-dot.de
www.red-dot.de/presse