SKD Designs Win 2010 CES Innovations Awards

Industrial design firm’s partnerships with Starkey and Duracell produce two innovative products honored by the CEA.

Marina Del Rey, CA (PRWEB) November 10, 2009

Stuart Karten Design (SKD), Southern California’s premier industrial design firm, receives accolades on the global stage today as the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announces the 2010 honorees of its prestigious CES Innovations Awards program.

Two SKD designs—the S Series Hearing Aid with Gestural Control for Minneapolis-based Starkey Laboratories, Inc. and the Duracell Instant Charger for the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance alkaline batteries—were honored for excellence in design and engineering. The products will be on display during the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 7-10.

"As a CES Innovations Honoree, SKD continues to cement its reputation as an industry leader providing advanced technology in a way that’s accessible for consumers,” said SKD principal Stuart Karten.

Starkey S Series with Gestural Control: Starkey’s S Series is the first hearing aid to incorporate a touch-activated surface that lets users adjust the volume or switch modes with a simple sweep of the finger. As hearing aids shrink to become invisible behind the ear, their small button and wheel-driven controls have become increasingly difficult to use, especially for anyone with limited dexterity. The S Series gracefully integrates a smooth control surface that is 10 times larger than traditional volume controls and 5 times larger than the traditional memory button, eliminating daily frustrations that call attention to the user’s disability.

Duracell Instant Charger: The Instant Charger is a compact, lightweight battery pack that provides up to 35 hours of additional power for any USB-compatible device, including cell phones, iPods and Blackberrys. Roughly the size of a pack of gum, the charger can be conveniently slipped in a purse or pocket. It addresses the ever-growing and ever-changing power needs of the modern consumer, eliminating the necessity of traveling with tangled power cords or bulky charging devices. By giving users added power efficiency, the Instant Charger allows consumers the freedom to live beyond the grid. Its design features include an LED indicator that communicates the amount of power remaining and an on/off switch that helps users to manage and conserve power.

The CES Innovations Awards honor consumer technology products that exhibit superiority in design and engineering. Journalists, engineers, industrial designers and industry experts make product evaluations based on criteria including value, aesthetics, innovation and contribution to quality of life. Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) with the endorsement of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), these awards have become an industry standard in honoring the best technology of today.

About Starkey:
Privately held Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey currently has more than 4,000 employees and facilities in 25 countries.

About Duracell:
Part of the Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), Duracell has been powering people around the world for more than 40 years. Its products serve as the heart of devices that keep people connected, protect their families, entertain them and simplify their increasingly mobile lifestyles. As the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance alkaline batteries, Duracell also innovates in disposable, renewable and peripheral technologies and markets general-purpose flashlights along with the advanced Daylite(R) LED flashlights.

About Stuart Karten Design:
For 25 years, SKD has been a strategic partner to companies seeking to differentiate their products through creativity and design. SKD’s design is grounded in a user-centered philosophy aimed at developing products that excite their target customers and reflect empathy for user needs. Connecting creativity with commerce, SKD designs products that serve as brand ambassadors for clients, leading to greater market share and increased profit.

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