IHA Names Finalists for gia Product Design Awards

The 60 finalists in the IHA Global Innovations Awards (gia) for product design were announced by the International Housewares Association (IHA). Winners in each of 12 categories will be announced during the invitation-only gia dinner March 5. 

The finalists and winners will be on display in the Hall of Global Innovation in the Lakeside Center Lobby at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The 2016 International Home + Housewares Show runs March 5 to 8.

More than 500 entries were received and were judged by a panel of industry experts and news media. The finalists will also be on display in the New Product Showcases located in the Buyers Club in each show building. 

“Congratulations to all of the finalists for an IHA Global Innovation Award for product design,” said Phil Brandl, IHA president and CEO. “Our world-renowned gia program is the ultimate awards event in the industry, honoring excellence in both housewares retail and product design.”

Awards are given in categories including Bath and Personal Care, Household Electrics and Home Environment, Personal Care Electrics and Pet Products. Other finalists (by category) are:

Cleaning: Casabella Holdings LLC, Splot!; Dazzl Corp., 360 Ironing Board; Kuhn Rikon Corp., Stay Clean Scrubber; SunState Laboratories LLC, DAZZ Cleaning Tablets; Urine Off by Bio-Pro Research LLC, Urine Off Find It - Treat It Kits.

Cook and Bakeware: Alessi USA Inc., Pulcina design Michele De Lucchi; Charcoal Box USA, Burnable Charcoal Chimney; Innobaby LLC, Aquaheat; Le Creuset of America Inc., Rectangular Dish with Platter; MC Appliance Corp. Magic Chef Soup Mug.

Home Décor and Gifts: Alessi USA Inc., Kaleidos design Naoko Shintani; Eva Solo A/S, Window Birdfeeder; Monkey Business Design USA, Nail It; MOVA International, MOVA Cube; New Product Solutions, Touch of Eco,Halolite Square Solar Outdoor Lights.

Home Organization and Storage: Biaggi ZipSak, Hangeroo Satchel; Brabantia USA, Flatback+ Waste Bin; Polder Housewares Inc., Wine Glass Drying Rack; Stasher, Stasher; YouCopia, WrapStand.

Kitchen Electrics: Aquarius Brands, AquaBoy Pro II; Jarden Consumer Solutions,Crock-Pot Swing & Serve Slow Cooker; Keurig Green Mountain Inc., Keurig Kold; StoreBound, Dash 2x Toaster Oven; T-Fal/WearEver, Groupe SEB USA,  T-fal OptiGrill + XL.

Kitchen Hand Tools and Cutlery: Microplane, Ginger Tool; Smith's Consumer Products Inc.. Compact Digital Scale- Plastic; Talisman Designs, Pastry Wheel Decorator; Trudeau Corporation, Strawberry Huller; Widgeteer Inc., Reversible Vegetable Peeler.

Kitchenware: DKB Household USA Corp., Cole & Mason Fresh Herb Keeper; Molecule R, Fermentation Crock 2L by Mortier Pilon; Molecule R, Molecular Styling Kit; Polder Housewares, POP-UP Strainer & Stopper, Prepara, Adjustable Oil Pourer.

Tabletop: Alessi USA, Human Collection Salad Set design Bruno Moretti and Guy Savoy; Eva Solo A/S, My Flavor Carafe; HYDAWAY, Collapsible Water Bottle; Magisso North America, White Line Cooling Ceramics Carafe; Peugeot, Zanzibar Pepper Mill (pictured).

The judging panel for the annual IHA Innovation Awards included housewares merchants from retailers including Ace Hardware, Amazon, BJ’s, Broadmans of South Africa, Careful Peach, Chicago Architecture Foundation, The Cook’s Warehouse, Cook’s World, Delphinium Home, Gourmet Catalog, Kitchen Window, Leon & Lulu, Marcel’s, National Building Museum, Placewares + Lydon Design, Sears, Spoon and Whisk, The Chopping Block, The Container Store, True Value, Yuppiechef of South Africa and Zulily.  Other judges included consumer editors, bloggers and many distinguished industry designers.