Wacom Press Release

Wacom receives international award for product design

The Intuos3 pen tablet system from Wacom was awarded the coveted “red dot” for high design quality in the product design category by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen. Deciding factors for the independent jury’s decision included the clear, straightforward design of the pen tablet system, coupled with the emotional appeal achieved through the use of high-quality material and backpainting to provide optical depth.

These electronic input devices, manufactured by market leader Wacom, are characterized by the manner in which they transfer the intuitive feeling of using pen and paper to a more technical workflow in an incredibly realistic way. For many professional users, who use a pen tablet on a daily basis for many hours at a time, the character and personality of a product play just as important a role as functionality.

The Intuos3 pen tablet system was developed in collaboration with Munich-based design agency ziba europe and is a complete redesign of the 1999 “red dot” for high design quality awarded Intuos. A comprehensive study of current design trends served as the basis for the development of the Intuos3. Wacom commissioned a survey of professional users, such as graphic designers, illustrators, 2D/3D designers as well as photographers, from all over the world to discover their working habits and their preferences. In this way, an essential insight was gained into working processes, which were then incorporated into the design guidelines for the Intuos3. As a result the Intuos pen tablet system underwent a complete redesign and was equipped with an extensive range of new features.

The integration of individually programmable ExpressKeys directly on the tablet eliminates the need to switch between tablet and computer keyboard. Depending on the programming options, vertically placed Touch Strips can serve to scroll quickly within applications, as well as to zoom in and out in graphics software programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, etc. This new functionality revolutionises the current computer-based tasks of digital media professionals by creating ever more efficient ways of working and by accelerating the workflow. The contrast between glossy acrylic surfaces and velvety soft surfaces make the Intuos3 pen tablet system a valuable and iconic design object. The choice of colours was based on extensive research, which served to develop a product orientated towards both global markets as well as PC and Macintosh users.

About the red dot design award
With over 4,000 entries from 40 countries, the red dot design award is one of the most important design competitions in the world. The competition is subdivided into three sections, - product design, communication design and concept design, which are all announced and adjudicated independently of one another. This year’s winners in the product design section will be presented with their awards at the Aalto-Theatre in Essen, Germany, on 4 July 2005. Following that, all prize-winning designs will be displayed until 7 August 2005 in a special exhibition entitled “Design Innovations 2005“ at the red dot design museum in the Zeche Zollverein, Essen.

Further information can be found at www.red-dot.de.

About ziba europe
ziba europe, based in Munich, was founded in spring 2003 as the European branch of ziba design. In addition to its head office in Portland, Oregon, ziba design rounds off its strong international presence with offices in Asia located in Tokyo, in Taipei and Shanghai.
With over 20 years’ experience in strategic product development, ziba design conceives successful brand, service and product solutions for global operating companies.

ziba europe’s clients include companies such as Melitta, Siemens Mobile, Villeroy & Boch, Wacom, Whirlpool and Zeiss, to name just a few

For further information on ziba europe visit: www.ziba-europe.com