▲Heat Pump Water Heater (NWP500) (Photo courtesy of KD Navien)

[September 19, 2025] Optimize Living & Environment—KD Navien won one Silver Prize and four finalist recognition at the U.S. “International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2025.” The award-winning products are ▲Heat Pump Electric Water Heater (NWP500), ▲Condensing Hydro Air Conditioner, ▲Navien Mat, ▲Smart Door Lock Series, and ▲Commercial Boiler (NFB700-C), which feature designs that optimize living and environment for customers.

Hosted by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the “International Design Excellence Awards” is one of the world’s top three design awards. It selects finalists through a comprehensive assessment of design innovativeness, user experience, and social contribution. The finalists’ entries are then reviewed to select the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Prize winners.

NWP500, KD Navien’s Heat Pump Electric Water Heater that won the Silver Prize, offers energy efficiency three to four times higher than that of conventional electric water heaters. KD Navien strove to demonstrate the sturdiness of this product by expressing structural harmony in its design. The matte surface finish and refined lines add sophistication, and the control panel was positioned with consideration for users’ heights and fields of vision to improve the convenience of panel control. In addition, the low-noise and eco-friendly design, along with the smart control function applied through a dedicated app, enhances functionality and aesthetics.

KD Navien’s key finalist product is the “Condensing Hydro Air Conditioner,” which is scheduled for release in North America. It absorbs heat generated when water evaporates and uses it for cooling. By spraying water onto the evaporative condenser, it produces an excellent energy-saving effect and generates little operating noise compared with conventional air conditioners that condense the refrigerant using air only. KD Navien applied its design by taking into consideration not only its cutting-edge technology but also convenience. First, the size was reduced by 20–30% from that of other products in the market to enhance installation convenience, and the sophisticated finish and lines adopted from the corporate CI were applied to promote harmony with the surrounding space. In addition, unlike conventional products with air intake in three directions, this product was designed for unidirectional air intake to considerably lower noise while improving cooling efficiency and installation convenience. Thanks to this design, the inflow of foreign matter into the inside of the product can be blocked, and cleaning becomes simple.

“Navien Mat,” a new product scheduled to be launched in Korea, was also highly evaluated for its design that provides an optimal sleeping environment. The main body, placed in the corner of a bed or on a bedside table, was designed in neat and refined lines. The hidden display, which turns on only when touched by the user, helps minimize sleep disruption caused by display brightness.  For the mat, fabric patterns mainly used for bedding and curtains were applied to ensure harmony with the surroundings of a bedroom. The newly developed “Padded Mat” also assists with good sleep. With the cotton filling increasing warmth, this all-in-one mat, which can be used without a separate cover, can be washed as a whole. The power cords at both the top and bottom ends further increase installation convenience.

The “Smart Door Lock Square Solidity Series” offers high accessibility. The “push-and-pull handle” ensures that the panel can be opened with ease through a simple push or pull movement. This feature helps all users, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those carrying a heavy load, conveniently use the door lock. A fingerprint recognition sensor optimized for all age groups, from children to adults, is provided. Moreover, the matte finish increases durability, reduces the frequency of cleaning, and provides visual comfort by lowering glare. It also reduces material waste by applying the minimum necessary seams and decorative features.

The premium commercial gas boiler “NFB700-C” also comes with a design that harmonizes with its functionality. The convenience of installation and maintenance has been improved through the “modular panel structure,” which comprises several panels, as well as the compact product size, while the design that complies with standard specifications helps reduce logistics and installation costs. The large LCD screen, positioned to fit the user’s field of vision, provides an intuitive interface and a real-time diagnostic function.