Oru Kayak Wins Prestigious iF Design Gold Award

March 18, 2024

Emeryville, CA (March 18, 2024)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Oru Kayak, the original origami kayak brand, is proud to announce that the Lake Kayak has won the 2024 iF Design Gold Award. Selected from a pool of 11,000 entries spanning 72 countries, Oru was among the top 75 design accomplishments to receive the Gold Award distinction from the iF Design jury.

When designing the Lake, Oru was guided by a single directive: utilize origami design to address the typical barriers of kayak ownership. Composed of only two parts and weighing only 17 lbs, Oru’s Lake utilizes origami folds to allow transformation from a compact box into a rigid-bodied kayak in under 1 minute. The Lake can be effortlessly stored, lifted, and transported to the water’s edge for a hassle-free on-water experience.

The iF Design jury—an independent panel consisting of 132 design experts—highlighted the perfectly balanced blend of form and function the Lake offered its users. In comments made on the Lake, an iF Design representative noted, “The attention to detail, functional elements, and overall aesthetics contribute to a joyful user experience, both on and off the water. Its convenience factor and affordability make this outdoor activity accessible to more people, a principle that iF endorses.”

“Our mission is to transform the way we connect with the outdoors – using origami design as a vehicle to expand accessibility to on-water experiences,” commented Oru Kayak CEO, Ardy Sobhani. “The recognition from iF Design is a testament to our talented design team and our commitment to developing products that support our goals through functionality and portability.”

The Germany-based iF International Forum Design GmbH, the world’s oldest independent design organization, bestows the iF Design Award on the best submissions each year. More information about the Lake from Oru Kayak can be found in the “Winners & iF Ranking” section here: https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/oru-lake/631649.

About Oru Kayak

Founded in 2012, Oru Kayak is a leading innovator in the kayaking industry and the first to bring a foldable kayak to market utilizing the principles of origami. Beyond the functionality of its engineering, the Oru Kayak stands apart from the competition for its superb on-the-water performance, durability, easy assembly, and stylish design. Based in Emeryville, CA, Oru Kayak is sold in dozens of countries across five continents, including Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas. For more information, visit: www.orukayak.com.

About the iF Design Award

Since 1954, the iF Design Award has been recognized as an arbiter of quality for exceptional design. The iF label is renowned worldwide for outstanding design services, and the iF Design Award is one of the most important design prizes in the world. Submissions are awarded in the following disciplines: Product, Packaging, Communication and Service Design, Architecture and Interior Architecture, Professional Concepts, User Experience (UX) as well as User Interface (UI). All awarded entries are featured on the iF Design Website, here: www.ifdesign.com.