iF Design Award 2026

The Vestel NEXT Washing Machine redefines the future of household appliances: Together with KURZ, the Turkish home appliance manufacturer Vestel developed a consistently user-centric concept for the washing machine of tomorrow, which received the iF Design Award 2026 in the category ‘Product Design | Household Appliances’. The NEXT washing machine represents a new generation of household appliances: Reduced to the essentials and intuitive to operate - thanks to innovative surface solutions.

Requirements

The challenge was to develop an appliance that simplifies complex processes, noticeably improves usability, and at the same time meets high standards in terms of design, functionality, and sustainability. With the support of KURZ, Vestel realized a washing machine concept that integrates harmoniously into modern living spaces, reduces technological complexity, and sets new standards in the design of household appliances - from the very first touch to full integration into everyday use.

Solution

The technologies from KURZ make a key contribution by combining design and functionality. Hidden-til-lit solutions create a clean, reduced surface appearance in standby mode - interface elements only become visible upon activation and provide intuitive usability. Integrated touch sensor technology (PolyTC^®) enables direct operation, while targeted lighting effects support navigation and create emotional highlights. This transforms the surface into an interface between people and technology.

Processes such as hot stamping and In-Mold Decoration (IMD) enable scalable production while offering a high degree of design freedom. Combined with a mono-material structure, the innovative thin-film technology from KURZ creates the basis for uncompromising recyclability. Efficient processes such as IMD can reduce the CO₂ footprint by up to 70% compared to electroplating, as fewer production steps and individual components are required.