Anze Sekelj Receives the A' Design Award for Hex Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer in Musical Instruments Design

Anze Sekelj recognized for musical instruments design by the international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 14, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ Hex Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer by Anze Sekelj, designed for Hex Haus, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Musical Instruments Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The result belongs to the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

The A' Design Award Explained

The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Regarding Hex Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer

Hex cor is a digital polyphonic synthesizer with a capacitive keyboard, potentiometers for signal modulation and an adaptable looper. The instruments design, also available as Diy kit, is optimized for use in diverse contexts focusing on educational and performative aspects. Components comprising the instrument are 100 percent replaceable, prioritizing the right to repair, ease of assembly and sustainable long-term use. With this approach we try to introduce broader audiences to electronic music.

About Anze Sekelj

HEX HAUS is a collaborative project by media artists Anže Sekelj and Staš Vrenko. HEX instruments stem from authors’ concepts and experiences in developing artistic tools and multimedia installations, aiming at creating didactic, affordable, portable and intuitive electronic devices that cross the boundaries of music-making, play and education. The goal is to introduce audiences of various ages and backgrounds to contemporary electronic music and its underlying technologies through workshops and do-it-yourself (DIY) techniques. Components comprising the devices are 100% replaceable, prioritising the right to repair, ease of assembly and sustainable long-term use.

Award Record

With this recognition, Anze Sekelj is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Musical Instruments Design Award

The A' Musical Instrument Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good musical instruments by leading designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to musical instrument designers, industrial designers, music instrument producers and acoustic engineers from all countries. Entries typically include guitars, pianos, violins, drums, saxophones and flutes. Awarded musical instrument designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/musical-instrument

About A' Design Award & Competition

A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Winner Page: https://designers.org/157574
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/157574
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!157574
Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/352153
Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.hex.haus

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project: Hex Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer
Function: Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer
Category: Musical Instruments Design
Discipline: Industrial Design
Industry: Arts and Entertainment
Colors: Light Gray, Light Pink, Black, Burly Wood and Dark Slate Gray
Images: 5
Client: Hex Haus

The Recognition

Laureate: Anze Sekelj
Country: Slovenia
Recognition: A' Design Award
Edition: 2023 - 2024
Design ID: #157574

Credits

Image Credits: Photo: Hex Haus

Design Details

Unique Properties: HEX cor is a digital polyphonic synthesizer with a capacitive keyboard, potentiometers for signal modulation and an adaptable looper. The instruments design, also available as DIY kit, is optimized for use in diverse contexts focusing on educational and performative aspects. Components comprising the instrument are 100% replaceable, prioritizing the right to repair, ease of assembly and sustainable long-term use. With this approach we try to introduce broader audiences to electronic music.
Inspiration: HEX cor stems from authors concepts and experiences in developing didactic tools and media art installations, aiming at creating an affordable, portable and intuitive electronic instrument that crosses the boundaries of music-making, play and education. Our objective was to address the problem of affordability with a boldly designed printed circuit board that carries both interactive user elements and functional parts.
Realization and Technology: Products interface is designed in a tidy minimalist fashion, considering the users tactile experience which also suits visually and motorically impaired individuals. HEX cor is supported by a thin CNC engraved wooden base, attached to the bottom of the printed circuit board, protecting the sensitive electronic components. Instruments UI consists of concisely annotated interactive components and capacitive touch-sensitive keyboard located on the PCB. The latter omits the addition of mechanical keys, reducing the product's size, enhancing mobility and lowering the final cost.
Operation and Interaction: described in the attached pdf file (manual)
Project Duration and Location: The development of the project started in 2020 in Ljubljana, Slovenia and was finalized and released in early 2023. Since then it was showcased across numerous venues and used as tools for various educational workshops.
Specifications: Product dimensions : Width: 130 mm / Length: 130 mm / Height: 35 mm / Weight: 170g Packaging dimensions (DIY kit): Width: 180 mm / Length: 260 mm / Height 10 mm Packaging dimensions (assembled): Width: 180 mm / Length: 260 mm / Height 35 mm
Keywords: Synthesizer, polyphonic, electronic, instrument, portable, touch, experimental, educational, DIY