Xperia smartphones bag 4 iF design awards

LONDON — Sony Ericsson has announced it has received four 2012 iF product design awards in the telecommunications category.  XperiaTM active received the highest level of recognition, the gold award.

The iF jury’s comprehensive judging criteria included quality of design and finish, choice of materials, environmental impact and functionality

“The Xperia active smartphone reflects our commitment to offer handsets for active consumers with stunning design inside and out,” said Jeanna Kimbré, director of creative product design for Sony Ericsson.

“Design has always been a cornerstone of how we approach innovation and we will continue to build on this success with the new iconic design language introduced as part of our 2012 portfolio,” Kimbré added. 

The iF product design gold award recognizes the best designs in the telecommunications industry. Xperia active boasts a scratch-resistant touch display that can be used even when fingers are wet and boasts technology that enables the display to be seen in bright sunshine.

Xperia mini pro

“We warmly congratulate Sony Ericsson for its first iF gold award. Xperia active is a very functional smartphone with a highly elegant design. Especially for sport users, it is the number one choice and the water and dust-resistance makes it a very special product — a symbiosis of functionality and elegance,” said Ralph Wiegmann, managing director of iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hannover.

Sony Ericsson carefully chose the materials for Xperia active to ensure the best aesthetics are used and that the smartphone is durable, sustainable and functional. A sturdy aluminum frame surrounds and protects the display and embodies the essence of Xperia active — utilitarian elegance. 

The iF awards recognized the wider Xperia range and awarded Xperia ray, Mix Walkman and Xperia mini pro with product design awards. The breadth of awards demonstrates Sony Ericsson’s commitment to create beautifully designed smartphones across the portfolio without sacrificing functionality.

Xperia ray

Xperia ray offers a slim, yet dynamic shape, which can perfectly fit into the palm of a consumer’s hand. The aluminum sides give the product a premium expression and a positive tactile experience. 

The interchangeable band on Mix Walkman allows consumers to express themselves and their personality via their handset. The precision of the clean front surface together with the soft curvature on the back creates a product with a distinct feeling.

Xperia mini pro boasts a QWERTY keyboard to enable fast typing and the fusion of exquisite lacquers, reflective metal and colorful accents create a stylish, fresh and energetic look.

The iF product design awards are an internationally recognized label for award-winning design and a symbol for outstanding achievements in design.