SK Broadband said on the 2nd that B tv's "AI 5 set-top box" won a main award at the U.S. IDEA Design Award, completing wins in all four of the world's top design awards.
The AI 5 set-top box started with Japan's Good Design Award last year, followed by Germany's iF Design Award in Mar. this year and Germany's Red Dot Design Award in Apr. It then made the list at last month's IDEA Design Award, achieving a design grand slam.
The product features a circular exterior and a matte black finish that softens the mechanical feel typical of telecommunications equipment. Aiming to be a "home object" that blends naturally into living spaces such as the living room, it keeps buttons and logos out of sight and is designed so that key functions are used through artificial intelligence (AI) voice and a user interface (UI).
SK Broadband conducted multiple surface-processing tests to secure durability while achieving a calm texture. It also tidied the back of the product, where cables and ports are concentrated, so it harmonizes with the space from any angle.
Ease of use was also enhanced. The LED brightness can be adjusted in five levels, and the indicator size was minimized to reduce glare that can occur during nighttime viewing.
Cho Hyeong-jun, head of SK Broadband's Media Tech Division, said, "This award recognizes the product's competitiveness and design capability on a global level," adding, "We will continue to introduce customer-friendly devices that combine technology and design."