MAKO Seizes a Win in the 2021 NY Product Design Awards

The 2021 NY Product Design Awards drew to a close and they published the official list of winners! They received over 500 entries submitted from all over the world in its inaugural year. The competition intends to honor these talented product designers whose works improve one’s daily life.

In spite of the fierce competition, MAKO Design + Invent landed a victory with the Silver award, with the winning work created by MAKO for the ROVER Packhopper. “As a design firm dedicated to providing world-class product design services to small businesses, we view this NY Product Design Award win as a huge honor,” said Kevin Mako, President & Founder of MAKO Design + Invent.

The NY Product Design Awards stay true to their mission of honoring product designers. That includes designers of all types; whether they be professionals or dabbling enthusiasts. The purpose is to promote designers and their works poised to make the world a better place. They intend to spotlight the importance of product design as the world’s approach to consumption of products continue to evolve.

“The level of completion and foresight shown by the entrants’ work is truly awe-inspiring. The works seen in the NY Product Design Awards truly represent the forefront of the industry,” said Kenjo Ong, CEO of the International Awards Associate (IAA). “The eye for detail and insight to integrate contemporary needs with future ones are certainly humbling qualities.”

IAA extended invitations to industry professionals to join as jurors. This is to instate impartiality and strict standards of assessment. The jury rifles through the submissions to search for stellar works. By electing these works as winners, they hope that it would elevate the industry’s benchmark of excellence. In addition, help with the industry’s advancement as a whole.

NY Product Design Awards Jury & Evaluation Process

The NY product design competition puts in measures to ensure impartiality and diversity in perspective for its judging process. By having 16 jurors from as many as 13 countries, IAA ensures a diverse panel of qualified professionals. A special group known for their stellar works. They come from prestigious companies, such as Global Head of Design at Accell Group Brian Hoehl, Global Design Director at Icona Design Samuel Chuffart, Managing Director / Co-Founder of LR Seoul Joon Kwon, and Industrial Designer at Arena Design Studio Elham Mirzapour, to name a few.

As for impartiality, the blind judging method is put in place to guarantee that. Jurors assess individual entries for the NY Product Design Awards based entirely on their own respective merits. To assess each of the works. they use contemporary standards, relevant to the specific fields the submissions are based in.

Participation of International Brands

Despite being in its inaugural year, the NY Product Design Awards received entries from distinguished companies such as Pininfarina, NITO S.r.l., Shanghai CC Design Co., Ltd., Bea Interiors Design, BAS-IP, Alexander Shorokhoff Uhrenmanufaktur, and KOMA.co.,ltd.

Entrants who created work for other distinguished companies were also present in the NY product design competition. These entrants represented companies such as Beats by Dr. Dre, Roborock, 35Newtons, Tramontina, Dali Foods Group, and Prime Health Partners.

Still, fortune favors the bold. In a competition where major players and known quantities were present, reaching out to grab ahold of victory for themselves, MAKO Design + Invent emerged victorious, despite the odds.

“Although dire circumstances were forced upon the world, the perseverance and willpower practiced by these individuals were inspirational, and serve as beacons of hope and inspiration for all. The excellence demonstrated is certainly observable in MAKO Design + Invent and their Packhopper design,” Kenjo said. “As the industry continues to evolve following the times, we look forward to supporting the talented people who are in it. Seeing their efforts helping the world thrive despite the pandemic, it is good to know that these the people to help drive our collective future.”

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!