Insight

Brand Positioning from the iF Design Award Winning Products Exhibition

(Writer/Hung Chi-Wen Process Assistant Consultant, Probrand Taiwan)

Over the weekend, I went to the iF design award winning products exhibition to explore the current design trends and trends, to see what are the hottest design creations of the moment, and to see some special brand positioning.

Discover recent design trends from the iF design awards.

The writers found their award-winning works presenting the design trends in recent years and would like to share their observations and findings with the readers to see what the branding side can do to sustainably move forward with the modern society.

1. Sustainable and environmentally friendly:
■ Modern consumers are increasingly concerned about environmental protection and sustainable development, and the use of sustainable materials not only enables brands to be sustainable, but also strengthens the brand's social responsibility image.
■ Observe: Brands can emphasize the use of sustainable materials or processes in their products and demonstrate their commitment to the environment through certification and promotional campaigns, enhancing brand value and market competitiveness.

2. Social impact and inclusiveness:
■ Social impact and inclusivity in design reflect the brand's commitment to social responsibility and respect for diversity.
■ OBSERVATION: Brands can design products that address social issues, enhance community well-being, and emphasize their focus on inclusive and accessible design. Such brand positioning not only attracts a more diverse customer base, but also builds a positive brand image.

3. Integration of advanced technologies:
■ Technological innovation is at the heart of modern design, enhancing the user experience through technologies such as AI, IoT and VR.
■ OBSERVATIONS: Brands can innovate their products and services by introducing advanced technologies to provide a better user experience. Technology-driven brands can establish a leading position in the market and attract technology enthusiasts and early adopters.

4. Minimalism and functionality:
The minimalist design emphasizes functionality and aesthetics, meeting the needs of modern consumers for simplicity and efficiency.
■Observation: Minimalist style design can convey information clearly, not only avoiding visual clutter, but also enhancing brand recognition and product intuitiveness. It helps the brand make a deep impression visually and enhances the brand's modernity.

5. User-centered design:
■ More and more "user-centered" design, good UX/UI design can significantly improve user satisfaction, see the wave of "human-centered" design.
Observation: By conducting user research, brands create intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces for their products and services, which in turn strengthens brand loyalty and improves overall market reputation.

6. Cultural and regional impacts:
■ Designs that incorporate cultural and regional characteristics are unique and can be used by brands as a way to position their brand.
Observation: Brands can tap and utilize local cultural elements to create products with regional characteristics, tell the brand's cultural story, enhance the brand's emotional connection and sense of identity, and then create the brand's unique identity.

By integrating with these design trends, brands can create a competitive or socially responsible brand image that attracts and retains modern consumers, enhancing brand value and market influence.



Next, the writer would like to introduce a piece of work that is eye-catching right from its name.

Straw shoes are the trendy shoes of Sea Islanders

Traditional straw shoes are the work shoes that Penghu people wore in the early days when they went to the intertidal zone to collect goods to prevent slipping, made of grass, easily damaged by friction with the reefs in the long run, although the straw shoes are consumables, they are also the necessities of life for the Penghu people who are connected with the sea.

The design team used a straw shoe weaving card kit with paper cards, thread, stickers for local intertidal objects, an envelope bag, and a small card with a link to a teaching video. You can easily learn this straw shoe weaving technique through a 10-minute teaching video, and after completing it, you can use the stickers and the envelope bag to send your own weaved straw shoe cards to your friends.

It not only shows the craftsmanship of Penghu's traditional straw shoe weaving, but also realizes the design team's emphasis on traditional culture and innovative interpretation. Through the easy-to-knit material package, more people can experience this skill and feel the wisdom and blessing of Penghu people, and then spread the good meaning. By utilizing a modern approach, modern people will have the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with and pass on their culture.

In terms of brand positioning, "Straw Shoes is the tide shoes of the islanders" emphasizes the combination of cultural heritage and modern design, conveying a deep cultural heritage and innovative spirit. So that the material package as a cultural story carrier, so that consumers in the process of purchase and use, feel the brand wants to convey the value of emotion.

Recent design trends observed in the iF design award winning product exhibition include sustainability, social impact, integration of advanced technology, minimalism, user-centered design, and cultural and regional influences. Adoption of these trends by brands will help enhance market competitiveness and demonstrate social responsibility.

Enhancing product value through environmentally friendly materials and technological innovation, or combining local cultural elements to tell the brand story and positioning, can enhance the brand's emotional connection and sense of identity, e.g., "Straw Shoes are the trendy shoes of the people of the Sea Island" successfully conveys the brand's cultural undertones and spirit of innovation through the interpretation of traditional craftsmanship in modern design, making the brand's positioning more attractive and competitive.

A brand should continue to adapt or integrate these design trends to attract and retain consumers, and enhance its brand value and market influence.

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