Press Releases

March 4, 2025

Sharp Corporation

Eight Sharp Products Win "2025 iF Design Award"

Including hair dryer, kitchen appliances, multi-function printer, and smartphones


Sharp Corporation is proud to announce that eight of its products have won the "2025 iF Design Award" (organized by the iF Design Foundation).

The iF Design Award is one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, and has been held since 1953. This year, there were approximately 11,000 entries from 66 countries across nine disciplines*1, and judging was based on evaluation criteria including not only form but also idea, function, differentiation, and sustainability.

Eight of Sharp products won awards in the Product Design discipline, which covers a wide range of physical products such as home appliances, furniture, and medical equipment.

Sharp remains committed to not only designing products for their beauty and ease of use, but offer the world products, services, and solutions whose usage brings happiness to people's lives.

*1 There are nine disciplines: Product, Packaging, Communication, Architecture Interior, Professional Concept, Service Design, Architecture, User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI).


iF Design Award website: https://ifdesign.com/en/

Highlights of the Award-winning Products

・Plasmacluster Drape Flow Dryer 900 Series

A new type of hair dryer for quick-drying and nurturing of beautiful hair. Adapting Sharp's newly-developed quick-drying method "Drape Flow X4" which provides fast and strong airflow from four outlets, pushes and separates the hair, and for efficiently delivering air to the roots to tip of the head. The new design places a high-speed compact motor in the handle and makes the nozzle shorter and slimmer, reducing strain on the wrist during use. It also suppresses static electricity and friction damage with Plasmacluster ions which are the same type of ions occurring in nature, finishing hair with a glossy shine. The dryer features SENSING mode which automatically adjusts airflow temperature with a proximity sensor and AI to reduce heat damage to hair. The Plasmacluster Drape Flow Dryer supports daily hair care for nurturing beautiful hair.


iF Design Award page:

https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-plasmacluster-drape-flow-dryer-900-series/674174



・High-Speed Oven SW99 Series

With improved high-speed cooking and ease of use, this oven for the North American market is aimed to provide a new lifestyle where special dishes that require a lot of effort can be enjoyed every day. The oven is equipped with Golden Heater, an industry first*2, which uses the power of far-infrared rays to roast ingredients to a savory aroma. Cooking time is significantly reduced by appropriately combining multiple heat sources (such as convection circulating hot air, and microwaves) according to the dish. For example, cooking time for a whole chicken is reduced to approximately 1/3*3, and a pizza can be baked in only about 9 minutes*4 without preheating. Diverse accessories that expand cooking possibilities, and an easy-to-operate 7.8-inch full-color touch display provide a new cooking experience. A design featuring a flat, linear form with a robust stainless-steel handle harmonizes with kitchen spaces such as kitchen walls and furnishings under counters.

*2 As of March 4, 2025. In electrical cooking equipment with Golden Heater (equipped with carbon heating element), Based on Sharp research.

*3 Test method: Based on Sharp cooking test. In comparison of whole chickens (approximately 5.9 pounds, or 2.7 kg). Sharp's wall oven SWA3052DS has a cooking time of approximately 99 minutes (including preheating), while Sharp's high-speed oven SWA3099MS has a cooking time of approximately 33 minutes 30 seconds.

*4 Test method: Based on Sharp cooking test. Cooking time is 9 minutes for a 12-inch (approx. 30 cm) frozen pizza.


iF Design Award page:

https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-sw-99-series/675986



・Drawer Style Microwave Oven D33 Series*5

This is Europe's first*6 drawer style microwave oven, redesigned to meet European market standards based on the drawer style microwave oven technologies Sharp has developed in the North American market since 2004. Installation under a counter eliminates the space consumption and complexity on a counter, while also allowing food to be easily removed from multiple directions. This product employs a handle-less full-flat design that automatically opens without touching the door when you move your hand up and down in front of its door. It offers a minimalist, easy-to-use space.

*5 Scheduled to be released after April 2025.

*6 As of March 4, 2025, based on Sharp research.


iF Design Award page:

https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-d-33-series-drawer-style-microwave-oven/676318



・Digital Full-Color MFP BP-C131WD / Printer BP-C131PW

A digital full-color MFP and a printer for overseas markets that achieve the smallest footprint in its class*7, combine a compact, unified design with smooth operability to support people’s work by their sides. The user interface realizes intuitive operability while maintaining consistency with higher-end models and compact body. This is realized by restructuring and re-organizing the elements within the operation console. The products are environmentally friendly due to use of recycled plastic for approximately 50% of the total weight of plastic used in the main bodies. The gray color is adapted as a design that harmonizes with diverse office environments.

*7 As an A4 color MFP in the 30-35 sheets per minute class released in Japan. As of March 4, 2025, based on Sharp research.


iF Design Award page:

https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-bp-c131wd-bp-c131pw/677475



・AQUOS R9 pro Smartphone

This smartphone is equipped with Vario-Summicron camera system with three-lenses (standard, wide-angle, and telephoto) supervised by Leica Camera AG. This allows a user to enjoy photography similar to a full-fledged digital camera. The design featuring a metal frame reminiscent of a digital camera, plus texture on the back panel and finishes such as knurling around the lens area gives the impression of a special tool and inspires a sense of ownership, while being a smartphone used wide variety of situations. With a large, easy-to-press shutter key on the side of its body, a user can quickly enter a shooting stance and not miss any emotional moments. By attaching commercially-available lens filters to the main body*8, each user can capture precious memories in color tones and textures more suited to their own tastes, expanding the joy of photography.

*8 A magnetic attachment must be purchased separately.


See more:

https://global.sharp/corporate/news/241029-h.html

iF Design Award page:

https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-aquos-r9-pro/675303



・AQUOS sense9 Smartphone

This design features a contrast between the straight lines of the body and the free-form curves surrounding the camera section, with a layout where the camera and light are not aligned vertically or horizontally. 36 color variations are available by combining the six body colors with genuine cases in six colors (sold separately). Customers can choose combinations that reflect their personal identity. A sturdy yet compact and easy-to-hold size is achieved by using an aluminum body.


See more:

https://global.sharp/corporate/news/241029-g.html

iF Design Award page:

https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-aquos-sense9/675260



・AQUOS wish4 Smartphone

This smartphone was planned in the hope of it becoming a favorite everyday item like clothing or a planner. The design combines simplicity and presence, with a contrast between the straight lines of the body and the free-form curves around the camera, and a striking layout where the camera and light are arranged without vertical and horizontal alignment. The product is environmentally-friendly by using of recycled plastic materials for approximately 60% of its body, and low VOC paint*9. It is also water, dust, and shock resistant*10 in compliance with MIL-STD-810H, allowing worry-free use in daily life.

*9 Paint with reduced volatile organic compounds, which cause air pollution.

*10 Tests were conducted in compliance under 18 procedures detailed in procurement standards (MIL-STD-810H) established by the US Department of Defense: Waterproofing (immersion); Waterproofing (raindrops); Dustproofing(sand and dust ingress); Shock resistance (dropping); Vibration resistance, Moisture resistance(humidity); High-temperature storage (static); Thermal resistance; High-temperature storage (fluctuating); High temperature operation (static); High temperature operation (fluctuating); Low temperature operation; Low temperature storage; Thermal endurance (temperature shock); Low-pressure storage; Low-voltage operation, Icing/Freezing Rain(condensation); and Freeze/Thaw (freezing). Performance of this product has been confirmed in test environments and does not constitute a guarantee that all functions will work in all situations during actual use. Does not guarantee no damage or no failure against all shocks.


See more:

https://global.sharp/corporate/news/240508-a.html

iF Design Award page:

https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-aquos-wish4/675518



For more about Sharp's award-winning products:

Design website: https://design.sharp.co.jp/eng/awards

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