The Design in Business Awards, organised by the Designers’ Institute of New Zealand in association with Better by Design, were presented tonight in Auckland. Highly Commended Awards were made to AuCom, of Christchurch, which manufactures and exports soft starters for three phase electric motors, and phil&teds, the Wellington based designers and manufacturers of inline buggies and innovative nursery equipment.

Judges say they were looking for a company for the supreme award where design was built into the structure of the business and “infused in every outcome, act and operation”.

Methven stood out, not only for its track record of growth and exports, but for its communication skills, brand story and the quality and sophistication of its products.

“Firstly, Methven has a commitment to research and development as the platform for good design and success,” says head judge David Walker. “Many companies do have good design, coherent stories and respectable business success. Fewer have a strong commitment to research and development.

“Secondly, Methven has a commitment to sustainable targets. This is especially crucial in products that rely on water supply. True, there are some gestures by many New Zealand companies towards sustainability, but they are superficial and led by compliance or window dressing -sometimes called ’greenwashing’. Here (with Methven) we have the real thing.”

Methven’s recent rapid growth and international success is an inspiring turnaround story. Until 10 years ago, the 120-year old company was a traditional tapware and bathroom valving products company. However, in 1998 the company decided to change its strategy to concentrate on research and development, with the aim of setting up a world class business with New Zealand as its design and engineering hub.

Today the company not only has its headquarters in New Zealand but also has bases in Australia and the United Kingdom, and is considered a world leading designer of luxurious proprietary water and energy efficient showerware, tapware, and valving products.

Methven is a long term client and supporter of Better by Design, after undergoing a Design audit (now called the Design 360), in 2005 and working with the programme to implement its recommendations.

Cathy Veninga, Chief Executive Officer of the Designers’ Institute of New Zealand, says the Institute was delighted with the standard and variety of entrants in this year’s Design in Business Awards.

“It shows that more and more companies are adopting a design led approach to develop more internationally competitive products. The Designers’ Institute believe this approach has never been more important in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

“We believe that businesses who are using design to develop more internationally competitive products are better able to adapt to pressure and be more resilient - and in the end, more successful.”

Judith Thompson, Director of Better by Design, said more New Zealand export businesses were recognising robust design-led processes as the key to selling products and services for a premium to global markets.

“Growth focused companies know that ambitious targets cannot be achieved through a business as usual approach. Design is the essential ingredient in the development of breakthrough products and services and achieving long term success. We are increasingly seeing companies who are producing better results and greater global impact because they have applied design principles across their business. It's time to recognise and celebrate this success."

For more information visit http://designinbusiness.dinz.org.nz/