Regional students design kitchens of the future

Ali Kajuee of Iran was recognised for his ?Ecoquina? design.

The final round of LG’s inaugural ‘Conceptualife’ competition took place at Zayed University Auditorium on February 15.

Twelve finalists, from universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Iran, were invited to present their vision for the future of kitchen design and appliances. Established as a forum for young, upcoming designers, LG’s ‘Conceptualife Competition’ attracted hundreds of entries.

“We want to tap into the youngest and brightest minds across the region and offer them the opportunity to show off their skills to the greater public. This competition will provide us with invaluable insight into where the next generation of consumers perceive product designs and features to be heading,” said Ki Wan Kim, CEO of LG Electronics Middle East & Africa Company.

Contestants were asked to present their ideas to a panel of judges that included Penny McCormick, editor of Emirates Home, interior designer June Hawkins and two representatives from LG. Each contestant detailed the creative thought process behind their vision and entries were judged on uniqueness of design, in terms of layout and individuality; use of innovative kitchen appliances, features and functionality; use of space, storage, areas and worktops; environmental solutions; and, finally, practicality.

Ali

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Kajuee of Iran was selected as the winner for his ‘Ecoquina’ design, which promoted a fusion of Eastern and Western influences. Kajuee’s solution had ‘green’ principles at its very core, and placed particular emphasis on creating a solution that would encourage users to be more aware of the amount of water they use.

The importance of water efficiency was reiterated by most of the finalists, who also showed an eagerness to experiment with the technologies of the future. Many of the designs included smart fridges that would inform users when they were running low on certain products, or appliances that could create shopping lists and send them via SMS.

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