Good Design Recognized for Improving Business

Architectural Record and BusinessWeek announced their 'Good Design Is Good Business' award winners. In the 11th year, past winners have included Kyotofu and New York's New Museum of Contemporary Art.

"In one of the toughest contests of its kind, we scrutinize both design and function: The focus is on solving client problems and achieving business goals."
(from BusinessWeek)

This year's winning projects include:

• Alley24, designed by NBBJ Architects and owned by Vulcan Real Estate, Seattle, WA
• Edmunds.com, designed by STUDIOS Architecture and owned by Edmunds.com, Santa Monica, CA
• Elm Park Mixed-Use Development, designed by Bucholz McEvoy Architects Limited and owned by Radora Developments Ltd., Dublin, Ireland
• One Haworth Center, designed by Ralph Johnson at Perkins + Will Architects and owned by Haworth Inc., Holland, MI
• Poly International Plaza, designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill and owned by Poly Real Estate Group, Guangzhou, China
• Sidney Harman Hall, designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects and owned by Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.

One Haworth Center gets my vote for a project that applies great design (their US headquarters) to grow a business (workplace solutions). It's also located in Holland, MI... and investing in Michigan is a good thing.

This reminds me of a Fast Company article from 2005 about about Proctor & Gamble's CEO (A.G. Lafley) recognizing the competitive advantage of great design and fostering it across all brands.

"I care if consumers think our brands and products create a better experience and they buy us more regularly. Design is part of brand equity. We stand for election every day, and design's an important part of it."