The common user interface (CUI), designed by TOMRA Sorting Solutions (TOMRA) and Design Partners, received this year´s International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) at a gala ceremony in Seattle, US, on 22 August.

The IDEA is one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions in its 35th year and is organized by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

From more than 1,700 products entered IDEA 2015, 28 gold, 53 silver and 83 bronze winners across 20 categories were selected.

TOMRA’s CUI was recognised with silver in the category Digital Design. Judging criteria included innovation, benefit to the user, responsibility, visual appeal and appropriate aesthetics.

The CUI is designed for the user to make sorting adjustments flexible and enabling user friendly control.

TOMRA Innovation, Strategy and Design head John McGloughlin said: "To receive a silver award in such a prestigious competition is a fantastic endorsement ofthe quality of design that goes into TOMRA sorters and elevates the value of our products to customers.

"The TOMRA CUI is a new and innovative user interface design that makes TOMRA sorters more accessible, and easier to use and operate.

"The benefit of this new user interface is that our customers will get better control and performance from their sorter and ultimately enhance their productivity."

The CUI was implemented in TOMRA’s recycling series FINDER, in the Field Potato Sorter (FPS) and Halo, both sensor-based sorters for the food industry. It has also been implemented in the mining system COMTertiary EM and will be expanded into the rest of the product lines.

Design Partners CEO Brian Stephens said: "Great design builds brands in a meaningful way by enhancing the lives of consumers and driving commercial success.

"The diversity and status of these awards acknowledge the creative and technical excellence required to create this value for different industries."