Jul 27, 2007

Arlington, Va., August 27, 2007 – Entries for the International CES Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards will be accepted today through September 28, 2007, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® announced today. This annual competition honors outstanding design and engineering in 32 consumer electronics product categories. Healthcare and Eco-Design and Sustainable Technology are the most recent additions to the Innovations awards program.

The awards are sponsored by CEA, the producer of the International CES, and endorsed by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) - the voice of industrial design, committed to advancing the profession through education, information, community and advocacy. The 2008 Best of Innovations honorees will be announced at the New York Press Preview and showcased at CES Unveiled@NY on November 13, 2007, at the Metropolitan Pavilion.

To assist companies in nominating their most innovative new products, CEA is implementing a new awards entry tool, powered by mBLAST.  This time-saving portal utilizes an online collaboration system that allows co-workers submitting nominations to combine their respective submissions and pre-populate basic nominee information.

“We have made our new online entry process easier and more convenient than ever before, and look forward to receiving this year’s entries for the hottest and most innovative products,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president of conferences and events, CEA. “We are continually impressed by the quality of product submissions as our Innovations program becomes more competitive and more popular every year.”

“The Industrial Designers Society of America commends CEA’s Innovations Design and Engineering Awards competition for recognizing the important role design plays in making consumer electronics smarter, easier-to-use, better-looking and more exciting every year,” said Michelle Berryman, President, IDSA.

For more than 17 years, the Innovations Awards program has given developers and manufacturers an excellent opportunity to have their products judged by a preeminent panel of engineers, independent designers and journalists. Honored products will be showcased in the Innovations Showcase in the Sands/Venetian at the 2008 International CES.

The Best of Innovations awards are given to the most honored products in each of the 32 categories. Honorees also are highlighted and featured in the Innovations Showcase at Innovations Plus at the Sands Expo and Convention Center during the International CES.

Media and analysts will see this year’s Innovations Design and Engineering showcase honorees during an enhanced and expanded CES Unveiled:  The Official Press Event of CES.  Guests will enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while viewing tabletop product demonstrations and networking with Innovations honorees and other CES exhibitors.  CES Unveiled runs from 4 – 7 p.m. on Saturday January, 5 in the Marco Polo Ballroom at the Sands/Venetian.  Only credentialed media, analysts and bloggers will be permitted to attend this exclusive sponsored event.  

Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards are open to all, regardless of CES exhibitor status.  To submit products for Innovations 2008, review last year’s winners or register for the show, log onto www.CESweb.org/innovations .

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $148 billion U.S. consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, digital imaging, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.