Las Vegas Market has recently announced a new partnership with HomeWorld Business to host the 12th edition of the Housewares Design Awards during the Winter 2017 Las Vegas Market. The venerable Housewares Design Awards will recognize excellence in 12 core housewares categories and will introduce a new 13th award recognizing an individual or agency for exceptional product design.

“HomeWorld Business created the Housewares Design Awards in 2003 as the first independently judged design competition focused on the U.S. housewares business, and it has established a high standard for recognizing and promoting housewares design excellence and innovation,” said Peter Giannetti, editor-in chief of HomeWorld Business. “HomeWorld Business is excited to launch the next phase of the Housewares Design Awards with the support of the Las Vegas Market, which continues to expand as a resource for housewares products that combine superior styling and performance. The Las Vegas Market is an important Western U.S. hub for the home furnishings and gift trade, and it provides a vibrant setting for showcasing the most inventive new designs in housewares.”

“Las Vegas Market is pleased to partner with HomeWorld Business to present the Housewares Design Awards – after its brief hiatus – while we continue our rapid expansion of gift-oriented housewares resources showcased at Las Vegas Market,” said Dorothy Belshaw, president of Gift & Home Décor, International Market Centers. “As the leading furniture, home decor and gift destination in the western United States, Las Vegas Market continually seeks innovative ways to spotlight exceptional products in the industries we serve.”

Las Vegas Market will host an awards presentation ceremony on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, during which winners of the 2017 Housewares Design Awards will be announced and finalists will be recognized. To generate awareness of the upcoming Awards, Las Vegas Market will install a photographic retrospective of past Award-winning products on C11 during the Summer 2016 Market; and a special display spotlighting the 2017 finalist and award-winning products will be featured on C11 during the Winter 2017 Market.

Products available to consumers from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016, are eligible for the 2017 Housewares Design Awards. The 12 existing competition categories are:

Cookware & Bakeware
Countertop Cooking & Beverage Appliances
Countertop Food Prep Appliances
Countertop Kitchenware
Cutlery & Cutting Tools
Floor Care & Cleaning Appliances
Gadgets & Kitchen Tools
Home Environment Appliances
Home Organization, Laundry Care & Non-Electric Cleaning
Home & Outdoor Décor
Personal, Health & Garment Care
Tableware, Serveware & Beverageware

A new 13th “Designer” category will be added, recognizing an individual or agency for product design excellence. Las Vegas Market and HomeWorld Business jointly will identify and select the recipient of this new Designer Award, and that honoree will be invited to speak at the awards presentation ceremony.

“We look forward to expanding Las Vegas Market’s recognition of leading designers – through our long-standing events like Design Icon – to include housewares product designers,” said Belshaw. “Based on our depth of furniture resources, not just at Las Vegas Market but also in High Point, we also expect our involvement in the competition will result in a significant gain in both interest and applications to the competition’s Home & Outdoor Category.”

Applications for the 2017 Housewares Design Awards, which will be available in early August, are due October 24, 2016. A panel of judges consisting of approximately 12 designers, educators, retailers and consumer editors will meet in Las Vegas in November 2016 to test, review and rate the products for the 2017 Awards. Judging criteria are: Appropriate aesthetics; Innovative materials and technology; User benefits (i.e., performance, comfort, ease of use, safety); and Marketability.

Since its inception in 2004, the Housewares Design Awards have recognized 702 products as finalists in the competition, and has bestowed “Best of Category” distinctions on 142 products. Honorees have included: Alessi USA, Inc. Electronic Kitchen Scale (2006, Food Preparation Electrics); Black + Blum Lunch Pot (2012, Tableware, Serveware & Beverageware); Blomus-SKS USA Corp. Chimo Fireplace (2007, Lighting & Home Décor and Outdoor Living); Joseph Joseph Triscale Kitchen Scale (2013, Countertop Kitchenware); Jura ENA Micro 9 One Touch Cappuccino Machine (2013, Countertop Cooking & Beverage Appliances); Microplane Box Grater (2009, Kitchen Hand Tools); Nambe Elbow Frame, 5x7 (2012, Home & Outdoor Décor); Umbra LLC. FishHotel Fishbowl (2011, Lighting, Home Décor and Outdoor Décor); Zoku, LLC. Zoku Quick Pop Maker frozen treat maker (2011, Cookware & Bakeware); Zwilling J. A. Henckels Twin Profection 8" Chef's Knife (2010, Cutlery); and Zyliss USA Corp. Easy Spin Salad Spinner (2006, Kitchenware & Barware).

Las Vegas Market is the leading furniture, home decor and gift marketplace in the western U.S., presenting 3,000+ gift, home décor and furniture resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of gift, furniture and home décor lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. Summer 2016 Las Vegas Market runs July 31-August 4; and Winter 2017 Las Vegas Market runs January 22-26.

(Source: furninfo.com)