Not all objects are created equal. The best-designed objects are those that tell a story and respond to user needs in exciting and unexpected ways; arguably, the best industrial design is that which delivers the age-old Vitruvian principles of commodity, firmness, and delight. Objects should serve a function but do so with a strong sense of style and substance that is laced with joy, both in the object’s use and in the design itself. Balancing the three considerations is more difficult than it initially appears, and is the hallmark of exceptional industrial design.

In recognition of this, The Object category of the INDE.Awards celebrates modern industrial design that carefully balances function, meaning, and beauty. Prizing originality, execution, and craftsmanship, The Object recognises the most outstanding, covetable design objects to grace the Asia Pacific region. The winner of this category will take a distinctive approach to marrying form and function, and will investigate new manufacturing techniques, materiality, and ideation. Ultimately, The Object will embody the Asia Pacific’s experimental and rebellious approach to design and be at once iconic and distinctive.

This year, The Object category is presented by Zip Water, leading providers of water filtration devices that seamlessly combine functionality with style. Elegant, functional, and brimming with user-friendly features, Zip Water products are exemplars of the power of industrial design to transform spaces for the better. Throughout the Asia Pacific region, Zip Water products are favoured by architecture, planning, and facilities management communities for their ability to streamline health and safety considerations into a sleek, streamlined design object. Zip Water filtered water taps are now a mainstay of commercial and high-end residential kitchens around the world, where they are prized for their easy operation, sleek contemporary design, and extended product lifespan.

Like The Object category of the INDE Awards, Zip Water is a major proponent of innovation and a considered, meticulous approach to design and manufacturing. Since 1947, the company has championed local manufacturing as a means of ensuring quality, consistency, and a tailored response to problems and needs. Bolstered by independent third party testing and research, Zip Water products reflect the gold standard in water filtration, and grant designers and specifiers peace of mind that they are choosing highly functional pieces that double as striking design objects in their own right.

As a champion of local design excellence and innovation, Zip Water is pleased to present The INDE Object Award of the 2018.