The IBO Design Awards for Portable Instruments recognize unique, innovative and purposeful designs. A portable instrument is defined as battery operated and easily transported. The designs of this year’s winners show the influence of consumer products design.

Gold Award

The 2012 IBO Gold Award for portable analytical instrumentation goes to Barbieri electronic’s SpectroPad, which is the first spectrophotometer for digital printing that operates free of a computer. The SpectroPad’s sleek body and black-and-white motif communicate sophistication and simplicity. The full-color touch screen pops amid the black background, evoking the functionality and design of modern consumer products. Indeed, the idea for the SpectroPad was influenced in part by Smartphones, Barbieri Sales and Marketing Manager Wolfgang Passler told IBO.

The SpectroPad measures 380 x 290 x 115 mm (15.0 x 11.4 x 4.5 in) and weighs 3 kg (6.6 lb). It is priced at €1,995–€2,885 ($2,461–$3,560 = €0.77 = $1). Barbieri worked with design firm MM Design to develop the product, which took about two years. The biggest development challenge was to incorporate the spectrophotometer’s capabilities into such a small instrument without sacrificing the quality of measurements. “As the SpectroPad targets and is used by professionals, it has to communicate reliability and professionalism,” said Mr. Passler. The SpectroPad conveys this with its ruler for high-precision measurements and laser pointer for accurate positioning.

Users of Barbieri’s spectrophotometers have typically been high-end printing laboratories, but the SpectroPad was designed to accommodate smaller labs as well, said Mr. Passler. Barbieri wanted users to be able to use the SpectroPad anywhere in their lab and to be able to travel with it conveniently. “Therefore, it had to be small, low weight, battery operated and transmit data wirelessly,” he explained. Industrial design was crucial for the SpectroPad in regard to its newly broadened customer base of employees at smaller, office-type labs. “This group, being very often also Apple users, is very sensitive in regards to design,” explained Mr. Passler.

Silver Award

Ahram Biosystems’ Palm PCR thermocycler is IBO’s 2012 Silver Design Award winner for portable analytical instrumentation. The compact system, available in the G1-12 or economy F1-12 version, is truly handheld, employing rounded edges and a clean interface to make for the progressive yet approachable and familiar look of consumer products. The system’s cover lifts up to accommodate up to 12 20-µL samples and can cycle 30 times in as quickly as 18 minutes.

The 71 x 121 x 47 mm (2.8 x 4.8 x 1.9 in) Palm PCR weighs 350 g (12.3 oz), including the battery, allowing users to easily perform nucleic acid amplification anywhere they choose. The economy and full versions are priced at $3,500 and $5,995, respectively.

Compared with competing portable PCR systems, the Palm PCR system weighs more than 20 pounds less. The full version is available in three vibrant colors: yellow, blue or red. The system sits atop a white wedge base.

Bronze Award

The winner of IBO’s 2012 Bronze Design Award for portable analytical instrumentation is FLIR Systems’ Fido NXT explosives detection device. The Fido NXT’s sensor utilizes a fluorescence-based detection technique known as amplifying fluorescent polymer, in which a chemical explosive’s molecules bind to the polymer and diminish the brightness of the fluorescence. The 37 x 11.5 x 7 cm (14.5 x 4.5 x 2.8 in) Fido NXT weighs 1.4 kg (3.0 lb). It is priced at $23,035.

FLIR Systems, along with design and manufacturing service firm Phillips Medisize, sought a balance of ruggedness and comfort with the Fido NXT’s design. Its magnesium bottom and co-polymer top are designed to resist shock and vibration. In tests, the Fido NXT was able to withstand being dropped from 1 m (3.3 ft). Unlike previous, bulkier Fido systems, the Fido NXT’s slender shape makes for a modern, refined look and allows users to easily grip the device and hold it comfortably for extended periods of time. The size of the touchscreen is also increased for user friendliness.