Pantech Group, the leading Korean handset manufacturer, today announced that it has been once again honored at the prestigious iF (International Forum) Design Award for excellence and innovation in the design of cellular phones and packaging, marking the third consecutive year since 2004.
Four of the company's products were recognized by the iF Design Award: "SP5" and "HC1" in Consumer Electronics/Telecommunicatons category, "Flexus 03" in Advanced Studies, and "One touch open cap" in packaging design. At 2006 iF Design Award, Pantech received the awards in recognition of three models; one commercial handset and two advanced concept models.
Jin Huh, Vice President, Design Division, Pantech said, "Pantech has put its efforts to offer better and more innovative handset designs to customers. It is a huge endorsement of Pantech's design capabilities to have our designs honored by some prestigious institutions such as the International Forum."
"As we develop the Pantech brand worldwide, our design competency - acknowledged by such a renowned design award - will be a cornerstone of our strategy to increase brand loyalty across all markets," said Mr.Huh.
The front face of the 'Flexus 03' is all covered with the black screen with the shape of a smoothly curved slim slider. A trackball-typed input mechanism on the face is an addition to its design attributes. The 'one touch open cap', honored in the category of packaging design, is designed as a round-shaped aluminum can, maxmizing customers' impression of unsealing a fancy box fluttering with excitement.
Pantech has been committing to enhancing its overall design competency and to supporting the development of new trend-setting handsets in many ways. The company collaborates with leading global design firms to enhance the creativity of its internal designers, while Pantech runs the 'Pantech Design Community' which consists of a group of talented college students in a bid to foster them into world-class designers and to gain fresh ideas for innovative handset designs from them.