COWAY

- Coway continues to set trends in the industry with innovative designs
- The company is consistently recognized for its unique water purifier designs by global design award bodies

Since launching its first water purifier in 1989, Coway has maintained its position as the undisputed leader of the water purifier market for over three decades. In South Korea, it’s widely established that 'Water Purifiers = Coway.'

Coway's ongoing success in a fast-changing and dynamic market can be credited to its technological prowess, strong branding, and effective marketing, but what truly sets it apart is its 'design innovation.'

Coway has consistently led the market by introducing water purifiers with distinctive designs that stand out from the competition. More than just creating a strong first impression, these designs offer customers both aesthetic appeal and functional benefits. Recognizing the power of great design, Coway makes a significant effort to transform its water purifiers from everyday appliances into thoughtfully crafted products that enhance and complement modern living spaces.

Coway’s design philosophy is built on three core principles: 'Design for People' which focuses on enhancing user convenience; 'Design for Space,' ensuring seamless integration into any environment; and 'Design for Nature,' which harmonizes with the natural world.

A standout example of Coway's design innovation is the ‘Coway HANDSPAN Water Purifier,' launched in April 2012.

In the early 2010s, the domestic water purifier market was dominated by large, bulky rectangular designs that were impractical for smaller kitchens. Coway addressed this by launching the ‘Coway HANDSPAN Water Purifier,' which featured a dramatically reduced size—just one hand span in width—and a distinctive concave design. Measuring just 18cm in width and 37.5cm in height, it was the smallest water purifier in the Korean market that could dispense both hot and cold water. Its innovative design optimized space in compact kitchens and appealed to consumers looking for sleek, modern interiors, making it a hit product.

The launch of the ‘HANDSPAN Water Purifier' inspired the market as a whole to shift away from large, bulky designs and embrace compact purifiers with unique shapes instead.

Since its acquisition by the Netmarble Group in 2020, Coway has accelerated its design innovation efforts. In May 2020, the company launched the 'AIS Water Purifier,’ the first of its kind to feature an LCD display on its front panel, offering customers an enhanced information-rich experience.

Additionally, the 'Noble Water Purifier Series,' launched in October 2021, set a new trend for 'customizable water purifiers' in the market. The series features four distinct models—built-in, horizontal, vertical, and RO—allowing customers to select the style based on their kitchen layout and personal preferences. With six color options and customizable maintenance methods and filter types, it offers customers a tailored experience.

The 'Icon Water Purifier Series,' which achieved the milestone of being the first Coway purifier series to sell over one million units, is also recognized for its design innovation. In particular, the 'Icon Ice Water Purifier,' released in June 2021, made a significant impact with its compact size and sophisticated design, challenging the previous belief that ice water purifiers had to be large and bulky.

Coway's design innovation is acknowledged not just domestically in South Korea but globally, too. The ‘Icon Ice Water Purifier’ was named the award winner at the 2023 iF Design Awards, organized by the International Design Forum, and at the 2022 Good Design Awards by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. Additionally, the Noble Water Purifier Series received accolades at the 2022 IDEA Design Awards, organized by the Industrial Designers Society of America, and at the 2022 iF Design Awards.

Coway’s official spokesperson stated, "We are dedicated to creating designs that positively impact people's lives. Moving forward, we will continue to set trends across various fields, including in the water purifier market, driven by our commitment to design innovation."

About Coway Co., Ltd. 
Established in Korea in 1989, Coway, the "Best Life Solution Company," is a leading environmental home appliances company making people's lives healthy and comfortable with innovative home appliances such as water purifiers, air purifiers, bidets, and mattresses. The company's most recent venture, the BEREX brand, aims to improve sleep and wellness through cutting-edge mattresses and massage chairs. Since being founded, Coway has become a leader in the environmental home appliances industry, with intensive research, engineering, development, and customer service. The company has proven dedication to innovation with award-winning products, home health expertise, unrivaled market share, customer satisfaction, and brand recognition. Coway continues to innovate by diversifying product lines and accelerating overseas business in Malaysia, USA, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and Europe, based on the business success in Korea. For more information, please visit http://www.coway.com/ or http://newsroom.coway.com.