Page 16 - PlanWorld_2011_en_high

COPY LEENA AALTONEN IMAGE PLANMECA OY

What lies behind the design award success?

Planmeca has received several
design awards over the recent years
for its dental and X-ray units for
their excellent ergonomics and clean,
approachable, inviting design.
But what is the secret behind
the design award success?

09

16 lanmeca’s industrial design manager is that they are responsible of the final 2010

PMr Kari Malmén considers the design execution of the product. This way they can 09

09awards as the result and a recognition for make necessary changes even at a rela­tively member
of
long-term committed work and successful late stage in case something goes wrong. This
cooperation for the whole Planmeca crew. allows the designers to make improvements
“The design concept requires a lot of time and polish the product until the last moment.
to stew and develop. The cycle of products “With outside designers the final
is quite infrequent and launching of a responsibility of the product is more or less
new product will take several years. There left to the customer. The outside consultants
is no shortcut to happiness but a lot of might not even be in the country any longer The design awards
determined work is required”, Malmén says. when the product is launched. We have a Planmeca has received
different way of seeing the projects through,” over the recent years:
Exceptional among its peers, Planmeca
has since the beginning hired its own says Mr Tero Pihlajamäki, user interface
designers as permanent employees. Thus, designer. Red dot design award 2009, Germany
Mr Jouko Nykänen, Director of Export
the company undoubtedly has deeper Planmeca ProOne, Planmeca Sovereign

know­ledge in the design than those using Sales, considers the awards as important Fennia Prize 2009,
consultants. According to Malmén the milestones and acknowledgements for
designers are an integral part of the product Planmeca. For sales and marketing team, the Honorary mention, Finland

development. awards give added confidence and pride for Planmeca ProOne, Planmeca Sovereign

The comprehensive design perspective is the products. if product design award 2008,
extremely important. An outsider designer The awards also support strongly the
would not be capable of considering and company’s principle that every aspect or Germany

absorbing all the different issues which have feature of the product should carry a true Planmeca ProOne

to be solved during the design process. benefit for the users, making their life and if design award china 2007,
“Teaching a person our ways – what the work safer, easier and more efficient.
most essential things to us are and what we “In a way, the design awards are also Top Selection, China

want the end result to look like – would sort of quality certificates, confirming that Planmeca Sovereign

also require intensive training,” he describes the comprehensive set of features and if design award china 2007,
emphasising the importance of using technology, as well as the vision behind the
in-house designers. product, has something profoundly unique Honourable Mention, China

Another advantage of in-house designers and beneficial,” he summarises. Planmeca ProOne