Whirlpool Fabric Freshener Receives Industrial Design Excellence Award

Whirlpool Corporation announced its Whirlpool Fabric Freshener has been recognized with an Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA).

The new Whirlpool Fabric Freshener is the only portable appliance that releases odors and relaxes wrinkles from fabrics in about 30 minutes with the power of immersive steam.

IDEA, one of the world's most prestigious design competitions, is co- sponsored by BusinessWeek magazine and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

Judging criteria focused on five areas of industrial design excellence: design innovation, benefit to the user, benefit to the client/business, ecological responsibility, and appropriate aesthetics and appeal.

In 2003, the company received an IDEA for its Duet front-loading washer and dryer.

"We are honored to be recognized for the design of our new Fabric Freshener product," said Chuck Jones, vice president of global consumer design, Whirlpool Corporation.

"Our development and design of this product was driven by our in-depth knowledge of our customers' needs, wants and expectations, which enables us to create quality, innovative solutions that are unmatched in the appliance industry."

The BusinessWeek IDEA report hit newsstands today with an in-depth analysis of the winners.