Platinum Smart Living and Home Automation Design · 2025
Inkslab Control Terminal
- A' Design Award 2025 Platinum Winner in Smart Living and Home Automation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: HDL Automation Co., Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 1,318,987
- Verification code 91200C1B4D · Verify this award
About Inkslab Control Terminal
Inkslab is a smart control panel series for home automation. Each panel measures 86 mm by 86 mm by 10 mm and combines a knob and buttons for precise control. The layout draws on the perforated window forms of Suzhou gardens, using fine lines to define separate function areas. Skin friendly paint and an anodizing process create a fine texture and improve wear and corrosion resistance. LED backlighting adjusts to ambient light, and a proximity sensor turns the backlight on or off to save energy. Several colors and materials are offered.
Hdl Automation Co., Ltd.'s Inkslab Control Terminal exemplifies the contemporary convergence of technological functionality and considered aesthetic design within the smart home automation sector, representing a significant advancement in how domestic control interfaces integrate visually and materially with sophisticated interior environments. The work demonstrates remarkable sensitivity to the challenge of embedding technological systems within living spaces, achieving this through a restrained material palette of cool graphite tones that suggest permanence and quality while avoiding the visual intrusion often associated with electronic devices. The distinctive surface treatment featuring organic cellular patterns created through precision incision presents a compelling dialogue between natural forms and manufactured precision, perhaps referencing traditional ceramic crackle glazes or the geological formations of dried lake beds, thereby grounding technological innovation within broader material and natural traditions. Technical execution reveals meticulous attention to proportional relationships, where the square and rectangular modules maintain harmonious dimensional ratios while the circular thermostat display introduces calculated geometric variation that prevents visual monotony. The integration of typographic elements demonstrates careful consideration of hierarchy and legibility, with scene labels positioned within the geometric cellular divisions to create intuitive wayfinding across the interface landscape. The singular chromatic accent of cyan digital display elements against the otherwise monochromatic scheme creates a focal hierarchy that guides user attention while maintaining compositional unity. This design approach suggests awareness of how domestic technologies increasingly require aesthetic consideration equal to functional performance, recognizing that control interfaces occupy permanent visible positions within intimate living environments. The viewer might consider how such works participate in the broader cultural conversation regarding technology's presence in domestic life and the evolving expectations for how functional objects contribute to environmental quality and personal experience within the contemporary home.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This smart panel series subverts the design of its conventional counterparts by subtly marrying eastern aesthetics with modern minimalism. It innovatively incorporates the element of Chinese perforated windows, and meticulously arranges the knob and buttons, allowing for precise intelligent control. The aesthetically pleasing and efficient product meets the demands of modern families for smart home, achieving the harmonious unity of individuality and practicality.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- product dimensions, 86 mm x 86 mm x 10 mm
- Tags
- smart home panel, Chinese perforated windows, customization and modular design, precise intelligent control, AI scene capture
- Production Technology
- The use of the skin friendly paint and the anodizing process leads to a simple, elegant style and a fine, premium texture, while also enhancing wear resistance and corrosion resistance, ensuring comfort and visual appeal even after long term use. Moreover, this panel series comes with multiple color and material options so that users can customize the product based on their preferences and home styles, making it seamlessly blend into any home setting.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was how to perfectly marry Chinese aesthetics with modern smart home systems. To address that, the panel series takes Chinese aesthetics as the theme, incorporates the element of Chinese perforated windows, and utilizes Chinese traditional materials including wood, bricks, etc. Such a design not only delivers a rich sensory experience through diverse textures, but also ensures unique visual appeal, creating a cultural atmosphere brimming with eastern traditional charm.
- Project Duration
- The product was developed in June 2023 in Guangzhou, and launched in October 2024 in China.
- Operation Flow
- Besides intelligent control, the panel series supports AI scene capture. This allows users to set various scene modes as needed, simplifying life management and offering a convenient, comfortable living experience.
The product loaded with LED backlighting technology dynamically adjusts its brightness based on environmental light, ensuring the content is clear and visible at all times. Moreover, the built-in proximity sensor enables automatic on or off of LED backlights to effectively save energy. - Research
- The minimalist style has been prevalent for a long time, but against the backdrop of diverse home styles, modern families urgently need a new alternative. To stand out from the largely homogeneous market, this panel series innovatively introduces eastern aesthetics and integrates intelligent control technology, practical and aesthetically pleasing, able to serve as an artwork full of Chinese traditional charm to spice up the home environment.
- Inspiration
- Drawing inspiration from refined and elegant perforated window art in Suzhou gardens, the panel series cleverly introduces the unique window form into its layout design. This not only clearly defines different function areas through exquisite and distinctive lines, but also successfully merges eastern traditional charm with modern smart home technology to realize higher aesthetic value, providing a novel experience for users.
Colors of Inkslab Control Terminal
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