The LG Arena Windows Phone has received an iF Design Award for the 3D S-Class user interface, it features. This again proves that user interfaces on smartphones are becoming increasingly important, because of their significant contribution to the overall user experience on a particular (mobile) device.

“LG Arena is the first to be awarded Gold in the Product Interfaces category, a newly created division of the iF Communication Design Award.  This award proves that the S-Class UI  is user-friendly in operation and superior in design.” [ref01]

Let me remark that  the contest was not only limited to interfaces of smartphones, but open to a wide variety of products as we can read on page 8 of the iF communication design award brochure 09. Personally I think it’s therefor very cool that a Windows Phone receives an award and beats all the MP3-players, etc. But what are these iF Design Awards actually about ?

“The iF Design Communication Award is given to innovative products which succeed especially well in combining functionality with convenience and esthetics. The top thirty iF Gold Award winners were chosen from a total of 1,368 entries this year.”  [ref01]

Being selected for an award from this larger number of entries is already a great accomplishment, but there are additional numbers which show the good work of LG’s mobile division.

“The Arena, LG’s flagship multimedia handset sold 500,000 units in the three months after its launch in Europe.” [ref01]

You also probably remember the HTC Sense (for Android) annoucement, a little month ago where the reasoning of this UI will be used across platforms. LG Mobile Communications is using a similar strategy for their 3D S-Class UI:

“LG has made the 3D S-Class UI standard on its high-end handsets, expanding it to the Viewty Smart (LG-GC900), LG-GM730 and LG-GD900 Crystal. Each of these phones is designed to fit different needs and the interface is tailored to help users get the most out of each handset.” [ref01]

The LG Arena is running on Windows Mobile, while the LG Crystal and the LG Viewty running a proprietary (LG) operating system. To refresh the cool features, I wanted to share a great video tour of the 3D S-Class UI on the LG Arena by Rich Brome from Phonescoop during Mobile World Congress 2009.

Overall I think this is a great accomplishment for LG Mobile Communications as well as for Microsoft Windows Mobile. I’m looking forward to see further developments of the 3D S-Class UI and the LG Windows Phones.

Reference List

1. LG ARENA Wins the iF Communication Design Award for its 3D S-Class User Interface
2. International Forum Design Hannover:  Profile