The Airline Seat as Art Form: Eos Wins Design Award as Founder Creates Innovative ''Suite''
Thursday June 29, 3:39 pm ET
Receives Coveted ''Red Dot Award'' for Innovation in Product Design
PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2006--Eos Airlines joined Porsche, Mercedes, Apple Computer, and TAG Heuer, among other innovative companies, in receiving the coveted "Red Dot" design award in Germany this week. Eos, which was honored for its patented seat, or "suite," design, is the only airline receiving the Red Dot this year.
Source: Eos Airlines
For the past eight months, the new airline and its now famous suite have been turning heads. Eos launched daily premium class service from New York to London in October of 2005, flying specially configured Boeing 757's featuring 48 all "lie-flat" seats. The plane offers an astonishing 21 square feet of personal space per guest, including a bed that extends to 6'6" when flat.
The Eos suites were personally designed by Eos Founder and Chief Strategic Officer David Spurlock, B/E Aerospace's Industrial Design Studio, and Aviation Science & Commerce. Spurlock, a former senior executive at British Airways, felt business travelers needed more space and flexibility in order to relax or work in-flight.
David Pottruck, the Executive Chairman of Eos, and recently named CEO, commented, "All of us at Eos are enormously proud of this recognition for Dave Spurlock and for our company." Pottruck continued, "The real winners, though, are the guests of Eos who enjoy a unique travel experience in a suite that is not available on any other airline in the world."
Dave Spurlock added, "Business executives with very busy schedules are asking for an airline that fully understands their need to work effectively and then completely relax in comfort. At Eos, we treat every guest with personalized attention prior to check-in and through arrival, including an in-flight experience that's superior to any premium class offering in the skies. Our remarkable Eos suite is at the heart of that in-flight experience."
Eos has taken advantage of the opportunity to completely reconfigure 757's for its fleet and in the process, is setting new standards for premium class air travel. A remarkable sense of space is the first aspect of the plane that fliers comment on when traveling with Eos. The suites have been staggered, insuring maximum privacy, and each of the 24 window seats has an unobstructed, direct path to the center aisle. A "window" suite on Eos, it should be noted, actually encompasses four windows. The unique suite converts into a series of multiple-use spaces, as well. It has a combination ottoman/companion seat nearly three feet from the primary seat. A large conference table can be pulled into place between the two seats to accommodate meeting or dining with a fellow traveler. The Eos aircraft also features a superb ratio of overhead storage space to passengers: there are 46 overhead bins for 48 people, which makes traveling with luggage onboard especially easy.
Spurlock worked in tandem with leading aircraft cabin designers B/E Aerospace and Aviation Science & Commerce, in finalizing and executing a design which has become the talk of the industry. Now, not only is Eos a favorite among discerning trans-atlantic business travelers, the suite itself is an award winner.
Since 1955, the Essen Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, one of the oldest and most highly regarded design institutions in Europe, has recognized extraordinarily designed products in an annual exhibition. In 1992, this practice was formalized as the "Red Dot" design competition. Only products that have been on the market for less than two years are eligible. These products are evaluated by an international panel of design experts based on several criteria, including: degree of innovation; functionality; formal quality; ergonomics; durability; symbolic and emotional content; and clarity of function. This year's submissions came from 41 nations across the globe. "Red Dot" award-winning products will be displayed in a special exhibition from June 27-July 23, 2006 in the Essen Red Dot Design Museum.[img][/img]
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Originally Posted by Mirrodie
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