The 127 finalists of the 2011 Australian International Design Awards includes products such as cars, medical devices, cooking utensils, building tools and furniture. For the first time in the history of these Awards, these products will be exhibited to the public.

Additional finalists announced by Good Design Australia include a lightweight notebook computer, finless surfboard, fibreglass caravan, revolutionary horse bit, interactive playground, bull vaccination injector and musculoskeletal rehabilitation system.

A division of Good Design Australia, the Australian International Design Awards rewards companies that differentiate their products and services through design innovation. The finalists were selected from 232 Australian and international entries, all of which underwent a meticulous physical assessment by a panel of leading design experts.

Mr Brandon Gien, Managing Director of Good Design Australia explained that the esteemed judges spent a week assessing each entry against a common set of criteria that focused on innovation, form, function, quality, safety and sustainability.

“Judges played with, tested, pulled apart and reassembled products to create an accurate user experience and understand each product’s design qualities.

“With a very high calibre entry field, the panel had a tough task choosing the Finalist products,” Mr Gien added.

“To be named a Finalist in the Australian International Design Awards is a significant achievement. This year with our first ever Finalists’ public exhibition, this recognition is more valuable than ever and rewards those companies championing the value of professional design.”

Finalists will have the opportunity to receive either the Good Design or Design Award accolade and one standout product, which the judges unanimously agree excels above all other Finalists, will receive the top prize, the 2011 Design Award of the Year.

The product that demonstrates best practice design for sustainability will be awarded the Design Award | Sustainability.

Additionally, and for the first time, the highest scoring product in each of the eight categories will be recognised with a Design Award | Best in Category, that acknowledges best in class design.

Winners in the 2011 Australian International Design Awards will be announced at the Awards Presentation Ceremony that will be held on Friday 22 July 2011 at Peninsula in Docklands, Melbourne as part of Victoria’s State of Design Festival.

The public exhibition showcasing the Finalist’s products will be on display at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens, Melbourne from 21 – 24 July 2011 as part of the same festival. Finalist’s products can also be viewed online at the Australian International Design Awards website.