T+L Design Awards 2011 | Travel + Leisure
A distinguished panel of judges names the best-designed hotels, restaurants, and more in this year’s design awards.
—Charles Gandee, Travel + Leisure
The magazine highlights its favorites in design — everything from the Best Resort Amangiri in Utah) to Best Tech Accessory (the awesome Jambox from Jawbone).
I do have a few qualms, though. Why does “design” — at least in apparel and gear — not take functionality into account at all? I mean, take the Urban Mobility Backpack by Puma, winner of Best Bag. I get it: it’s white, it’s shiny, it’s hipster cool, it’d fit right in in our Dystopian future. But even having never seen the thing, I think it’s safe to presume it’s a pretty shitty backpack from a functional standpoint. That’s part of design, no?
Photo: The Yas Hotel | Dubai, United Arab Emirate
