[Madrid, Spain]: After winning a Red Dot Design Award in 2022, UNIT 1 is proud to announce that FARO, their Urban Smart Helmet, has been awarded the Gold Award at the 2023 IF Design Awards, in the Product Design Category.
The IF Design Award is one of the world's most prestigious design competitions - this year with over 10,000 entries from 56 countries. The Gold Award is their highest possible distinction, granted to just 75 products out of the 10,000 applications and chosen by a juror made up of 133 experts in the field . This year UNIT 1 is honored to share the category with some of the most respected brands at a global scale, such as Apple, Google, Bosch and Panasonic.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive such a distinction. As product designers, it doesn’t get any better than Red Dot + IF. This is a true testament to the hard work of our design team who brought this product to life at the height of the pandemic entirely through Zoom, without in-person meetings or any kind of travel to the manufacturing hub - an extra challenging setup.” says Javier Bertani, co-founder and Chief of Design at UNIT 1.
FARO was the tip of the spear for UNIT 1’s journey into Urban Mobility. As such, it had the task of embodying the brand’s design DNA and bringing it to life. It was also an experiment of sorts: it was conceived to bridge the gap between Style and Technology, creating a new category of helmet that is clean & stylish - which increases helmet adoption - and packed with life-saving tech, which increases the safety offering for the rider. The result is a riding experience embedded with technology, design and an absurd attention to detail that aims at making the streets safer for riders.
The ‘IF Gold Statement’ made by the 133 juror body of design experts reads: “Who says that bicycle helmets have to be clunky? The FARO smart bicycle helmet has a cool design aesthetic that speaks to the rapidly growing trend towards urban micro-mobility. The integrated lights offer subtle yet effective visibility and directional signaling.”
“…The FARO smart bicycle helmet has a cool design aesthetic that speaks to the rapidly growing trend towards urban micro-mobility…” IF Gold Jury
“Bringing home the Gold IF Award right after already achieving a Red Dot Design Award is nothing short of a pipe dream. As a team we strive for products that create amazing user experiences through design & technology - so FARO achieving this double accolade means we are heading in the right direction.” says Juan Garcia Mansilla, co-founder at UNIT 1.
The UNIT 1 Team will be attending the Award Ceremony in Berlin on May 15th and taking the stage next to world renowned brands - a statement that UNIT 1 is playing at the highest level of design.
For more information about FARO visit: www.unit1gear.com/products/faro-mips
