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Melbourne-headquartered Schweigen has achieved one of Australia's highest design honours, with its Schweigen Design collection receiving the prestigious Good Design Award Best in Class in the Product Design (Domestic Appliances) category at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards.
The award recognises Schweigen's bold vision to redefine kitchen ventilation, transforming what has traditionally been a purely functional appliance into a striking architectural centrepiece that combines exceptional design with powerful, silent performance.
The winners were announced at a prestigious ceremony held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney on Friday, 9th October 2026, celebrating outstanding achievements in design, technology, engineering, healthcare and sustainability from Australia and around the world.
Presented under the theme "Design that Leads", the 2026 Awards celebrated the power of design to challenge convention, inspire innovation and deliver meaningful change. Each entry was rigorously assessed by an independent jury of more than 100 Australian and international design experts against three key criteria: Good Design, Design Innovation and Design Impact.
For Schweigen, receiving the coveted Best in Class distinction represents significant recognition of its commitment to challenging industry conventions and pushing the boundaries of kitchen appliance design.
Reimagining the Rangehood
For decades, rangehoods have largely been viewed as functional necessities — appliances designed to extract cooking fumes but often concealed or treated as an afterthought in kitchen design.
Schweigen Design challenges that thinking. The collection introduces a new approach to kitchen ventilation, where sculptural forms, premium finishes and innovative technology come together to create appliances that are as visually compelling as they are functional.
Designed for discerning homeowners, architects and interior designers, the Schweigen Design collection brings together distinctive architectural styling and advanced ventilation technology.
Key innovations across the collection include:
- Powerful, silent extraction - delivering exceptional ventilation performance without the disruptive noise traditionally associated with rangehoods.
- Sculptural architectural design - transforming kitchen ventilation into a striking visual feature.
- Touchless gesture control - providing effortless, intuitive operation.
- Adjustable lighting temperature - allowing homeowners to create the ideal kitchen ambience.
- Premium, fingerprint-resistant finishes - combining sophisticated aesthetics with everyday practicality.
- Flexible installation options - providing greater freedom in contemporary kitchen design.
The result is a collection that delivers a compelling combination of design, technology and performance while contributing to healthier, more comfortable living environments.
High Praise from the International Design Jury
The Australian Good Design Awards Jury recognised Schweigen Design for its innovative approach to an appliance category traditionally characterised by limited design evolution. Official Jury comments:
“The Jury recognises Schweigen Design for transforming the rangehood from a purely functional appliance into a sculptural, design-led architectural feature that elevates contemporary kitchen spaces. The collection was commended as a well-resolved product capable of delivering high-performance silent extraction alongside thoughtful personalisation options, strong finishes, and quality manufacturing.”
“The Jury was impressed by the thoughtful response to challenging the status quo in a category that has lacked meaningful innovation, creating a desirable product solution that seamlessly blends into residential environments while delivering meaningful improvements to health and air quality through considered engineering and a human-centered Industrial Design approach. Well done.”
A Proud Moment for Australian Design & Innovation
Schweigen Co-Owner Anthony Fletcher said the award was a significant milestone for the Australian-owned business and a testament to its determination to challenge conventional thinking.
"When we created Schweigen Design, we wanted to completely change the way people think about kitchen ventilation.”
“For too long, the rangehood has been treated as a bulky, purely functional appliance that homeowners and designers often try to hide. We saw an opportunity to turn that thinking on its head.”
“Our vision was to create something truly special - a collection that combines beautiful architectural design, advanced technology and the powerful, silent performance Schweigen is renowned for."
"Winning Best in Class at the Australian Good Design Awards is an incredible honour, and reinforces our belief that homeowners should never have to compromise between exceptional design and outstanding performance.”
"We're extremely proud of what our team has achieved. This award demonstrates that any Australian business can challenge established thinking, push design boundaries and create products that stand alongside the very best in the world."
“With Schweigen Design, the rangehood is no longer something to hide. It is something to celebrate.”
About Schweigen
Founded 2008 in Melbourne, Schweigen is the 100% Australian-owned, climate-positive company and a pioneer of silent rangehood technology. Renowned for combining European craftsmanship with Australian innovation, Schweigen has built its reputation on delivering powerful, energy-efficient kitchen ventilation without the disruptive noise associated with conventional rangehoods. At the heart of its silent rangehood technology is the Australian-designed and assembled Isodrive® motor system, which positions the motor away from the cooking area to deliver powerful extraction and silent air extraction where cooking happens. With a commitment to innovative design, exceptional durability and healthier indoor environments, Schweigen continues to redefine the possibilities of home ventilation. Schweigen products are available through more than 900 retailers and stockists across Australia and New Zealand.
For more information, please visit www.schweigen.com.au and www.schweigendesign.com.au.
About Good Design Australia
Good Design Australia is an international design promotion organisation responsible for managing Australia’s annual Good Design Awards and other signature design events. With a proud history that dates back to 1958, Good Design Australia remains committed to promoting the importance of design to business, industry, government and the general public and the critical role it plays in creating a better, safer and more prosperous world.
For more information, please visit www.good-design.org
