BEIJING, July 19, 2006 – Lenovo announced today that it won two Gold Awards in the Research and Computer Equipment categories respectively, at the 2006 Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEAs), one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions, sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and BusinessWeek.
Lenovo won a Gold IDEA for the innovative Opti Desktop PC, a multimedia desktop PC designed for China’s tech passionate youth. The computer has a strikingly simple and clean chrome appearance and features modular components that make upgrades easy and allow users to tailor the Opti to their environment.
A second gold was awarded for the design research of the Opti Desktop PC that Lenovo performed in conjunction with ZIBA Design, based in Portland, U.S.A. The research phase, dubbed the “Search for the Soul,” enabled Lenovo to focus more closely on Chinese consumer culture, uncovering the design elements most meaningful and valuable for specific groups of Chinese consumers.
“The two Gold IDEAs are recognition for Lenovo’s excellence in developing innovative designs and technologies that improve our customers’ computing experience,” said George He, chief technology officer and senior vice president of Research and Development for Lenovo, “The award-winning research and design of the Opti Desktop PC was a collaborative project with rigorous processes and multidisciplinary approaches. The exercise not only strengthened our culture of innovation, but also markedly improved our competitiveness on differentiation and value to the customers.”
Sponsored by BusinessWeek and judged by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the IDEA is one of the most well-respected design competitions in the world. Awards are presented on the basis of excellence and innovation in the design and functionality of individual products.
Lenovo has won recognition for its products from multiple international competitions including Red Dot Design Awards for the Lenovo Yoga notebook and Sundial PC, an IDEA award for the Smartphone ET960, an IF International Design Award for the Next-Generation Concept PC, and a number of the Intel Innovative PC Awards. The ThinkPad also received Red Dot Design Awards in 2003, 2002 and 2000.
About Lenovo Group Ltd. Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world’s most innovative personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com .
Contacts: Hong Kong Angela Lee(852) 2516-4810 angelalee@lenovo.com
Beijing Jean Cai(8610) 5886 8912 caixqb@lenovo.com
New York Julie Gottlieb(914) 701-2876 jgottlie@us.lenovo.com