The best designers of the red dot design award 2007 in interview: Rochelle Kleinberg and Ted Owen

This year's red dot: best of the best award for the category fashion, jewelry, and luxury items of product design was given to MFV International Corporation for its cosmetic accessory “Clinique Derma White Auto-Open Compact”. The high-quality, white cosmetic box has an integrated mirror and opens on its own by means of an innovative folding mechanism. red dot online talked to the designers, Rochelle Kleinberg and Ted Owen.

Ms Kleinberg, Mr Owen, what inspired you to create this particular product and what was the intention behind it?

The Derma White compact was designed specifically for the Japanese market.

We wanted a package that would be innovative, user friendly and expand the

traditional concept of how a makeup compact functions..

What does being awarded with the “red dot: best of the best” mean to you?

Clinique is honored to have been recognised for design excellence by red

dot. We respect that a cosmetics package can be an elegant and smart example of product design.

What particular challenges do you think designers have to face these

days?

To continually deliver innovation and quality in products that have purpose.

As a designer, what would you still like to accomplish in the future?

To constantly evolve and innovate the brand through design.

What do you think is the economic significance of design?

Good design is good business. In today’s highly competitive marketplace

design is essential to differentiate products and strengthen brand identity.

With this sophisticated product, MFV International Corporation from Morristown, United States, is moreover setting trends in matters packaging design. The sleek and elegant Clinique cosmetic box opens with a mere click on the sides. According to the 2007 red dot jury, the product is fun in addition to meeting the high luxury standard achieved by all of this year's product design entries. With designers targeting a very discerning international clientele, the Clinique cosmetic box was able to capture the spirit of the times.

The task of good design, according to the jury, is to sustainably increase the quality of life and to implement innovative ideas in an original manner. Inspired by design features from the automotive industry, the designers of the Clinique cosmetic box succeeded in enhancing an everyday object such as a makeup box. Pleasing to look at, the box fits into a purse like any piece of jewelry. The red dot expert jury awarded the Clinique cosmetic box with one of the 43 red dot: best of the best awards for the successful combination of elegant design and aspects such as functionality and user-friendliness.