Architectural hardware and security solutions major Dorset Industries has been conferred with the Excellence in Design by India Design Council (IDA) for two of its products – Flexa and Deco. IDA is the country’s nodal body focused on increasing understanding and developing design capability for creating value in the business.

“These door handles are a considered creation of product designers at Dorset. The Design Council received 740 applications and from these 74 was chosen for consideration by an expert panel in the stage-2. The panel recognised the design supremacy of four products – two of which were Dorset’s Flexa and Deco door handles,” informs company’s chairman and managing director, Rajesh Bansal.

According to Bansal, the award is a recognition for user potential, aesthetics, differentiation in the market, technical excellence, and social responsibility. “I-mark is not a competitive mark but recognition of good design and a process that aims to establish functionality and appeal of products. It acknowledges the fact that the product improves people’s quality of life. As a leading producer of architectural hardware and provider of high-quality security locking solutions Dorset has been at the forefront of innovation in the industry.”

Recognising the instrumental role played by the company’s R&D for the accolade, Bansal adds, “Dorset has a sizable R&D team, the research activities of which span many countries, and many products. The group’s highly knowledgeable and talented R&D department is constantly involved in conducting extensive research to come up with innovative and futuristic ideas that can help Dorset achieve newer heights of growth and success.”

When asked about the design detailing of the award-winning Flexa and Deco door handles, Bansal stated, “Deco is an ergonomically designed mortise handle focusing on the feel of luxury and aesthetic. In this modern world, people are less connected to natural or organic form or texture, so keeping that in mind the product is inspired from organic forms and the hammered texture is inspired from the traditional Indian handicraft to express the root and origin and also to give it an earthy look. Flexa is a stylised handle that is inspired by geometric angles and lines, and the angle of the lever is 145 degrees to maintain symmetry and balance in the lever. The pressure fitted plate comes in different finishes to break the monotony of the product.”

Dorset’s design philosophy is based on a few pillars, the most important one being craft. “We take the smallest things most seriously, and all these efforts are seen in the quality of the products we manufacture. All Dorset designs have a certain factor of empathy, focus, impute and friendliness.”