Hyundai redesigned its industry-leading midsize sedan Sonata with a more assertive profile and clean and handsome approach.
That new design was honored with a 2017 GOOD DESIGN® Award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, a significant honor in the world of design.
This is the second time Sonata has been recognised by the Museum’s GOOD DESIGN Awards, following a win in 2014 and continuing Hyundai’s commitment to bold and distinctive styling.
The Hyundai Sonata was honored alongside pioneers from the worlds of industrial, product and graphic design for its immense creativity and attention to form, function and aesthetics.
As the oldest and most prestigious worldwide design awards program, GOOD DESIGN has upheld a standard of excellence and daring creativity for 67 years, and Hyundai is proud to have been honored on numerous occasions.
“The Chicago Athenaeum’s GOOD DESIGN program promotes the tenets of innovation and attention to detail that produce excellence and utility in design,” said Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, Museum President, GOOD DESIGN. “Hyundai has become a fixture of the GOOD DESIGN Awards, demonstrating its commitment to elevating both the form and the function of what makes an automobile.”
For years, the Sonata has stood out as the most well-known model in Hyundai’s lineup, and the all new design refresh builds on the success of previous generations while introducing a more aggressive and sporty look.
A resculpted hood and cascading grille signal a shift in Hyundai’s evolving design philosophy, along with other dramatic design changes that result in a bolder, more sophisticated exterior. Precise lines and bold styling cues create a modern yet unconventional design theme.
Hyundai’s designers have also restructured the side view of the car, creating a more dynamic, long and sleek appearance by enlarging the trunk lid to counterbalance the lower. The interior of the car has been redesigned as well, bolstering the center stack with larger features to create a more striking appearance. Brand-new “rocker” buttons now control the audio and ventilation controls, enhancing the car’s premium feel.
“Hyundai is honored to be recognized by GOOD DESIGN for this daring refresh of one of its most popular vehicles,” said Chris Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai Design Center. “Sonata is winning this award for the second time, demonstrating an entirely new look and feel but a core consistency of quality in the ever-changing automotive landscape.”
Founded in Chicago in 1950, the GOOD DESIGN Awards honor the yearly achievements of the best industrial and graphic designers and world manufacturers for their pursuit of extraordinary design excellence.
GOOD DESIGN is the oldest and the most prestigious architecture and design awards program organized worldwide and strives to create a revived awareness about contemporary design.
The awards honor both products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing that have charted new directions and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace.
In November, juries met in New York and San Francisco and selected over 900 product designs and graphics from over 38 nations worthy of the GOOD DESIGN Award for their design excellence.
