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DesignNewswire · COMO, Italy ·

Fabrizio Crisa Receives the Silver A' Design Award for Linea Virtus Oven Series in Home Appliances Design

Fabrizio Crisa recognized for home appliances design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 22, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Linea Virtus Oven Series by Fabrizio Crisa, designed for Elica, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Home Appliances Design category. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

What the Silver A' Design Award Means

The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

More About Linea Virtus Oven Series

Linea Virtus is a series of built-in ovens designed for home kitchens. All models feature a black glass surface and anodized aluminum details, so the series blends into different kitchen styles. The handle has a linear shape and a size that supports comfortable use. Each oven offers temperature control up to 320 degrees Celsius, an electronically controlled humidity valve, an integrated food probe and sliding guides. Cooking modes are selected with a color display or a central knob. Triple-glazed doors and sealed stainless steel cavities improve insulation.

About Fabrizio Crisa

Fabrizio Crisà is the Design Center Director at Elica. Born in 1973, he holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Design at La Sapienza University of Rome. In 2005 he joined Elica and he was soon appointed Design Centre Manager and it has been leading the design team, playing a key role in the innovation process of the products. Creativity and sense of aesthetics, research for innovation are the pillars of his work. The passion for beauty and technological innovation is what shapes his unique and distinctive objects. His products have been awarded with many design prizes, Compasso d’Oro included.

Award Record

With this recognition, Fabrizio Crisa is a winner of 9 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2018 - 2019 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.

About the A' Home Appliances Design Award

The A' Home Appliance Design Award is an international competition recognizing good home appliance designs by best appliance designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to home appliance designers, industrial designers, product engineers and appliance brands from all countries. Typical entries include refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, dryers and ovens. The awarded home appliance designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/home-appliance

About A' Design Award & Competition

Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project
Linea Virtus Oven Series
Function
Oven Series
Category
Home Appliances Design
Discipline
Industrial Design
Industry
Electronics & Appliances and Furniture & Home
Colors
Black, Dark Slate Gray, Dark Gray, Gray and Dim Gray
Images
5
Client
Elica

The Recognition

Laureate
Fabrizio Crisa
Country
Italy
Recognition
Silver A' Design Award
Edition
2025 - 2026
Design ID
#175024

Credits

Team
Fabrizio Crisà
Image Credits
Elica

Design Details

Unique Properties
Synonym such as simplicity, accuracy, minimalist design and attention to detail make Elica ovens unique and distinctive, especially in those elements such as handle and knob, which combine aesthetic and functionality. The selection and processing of special materials, combined with a special love for customers, result in robust and reliable products, pleasant for all the senses. All the models are characterized by a total black glass surface, thus blending perfectly into any kitchen style. The black color is a transversal element that is also present in the distinctive and common parts of the entire range, such as the top panel and the designer handle.
Inspiration
The Virtus line was inspired by the desire to combine minimalist elegance with professional performance in a domestic kitchen. Emphasizing sleek aesthetics and intuitive usability, the design draws on advanced thermal engineering and culinary science to ensure precise temperature and humidity control. The goal was to democratize high-end cooking technology by offering energy-efficient, multifunctional ovens that would meet the needs of both passionate home cooks and culinary professionals.
Research
This research focused on improving the performance of domestic ovens by integrating professional cooking technologies. The objectives included precise temperature and humidity control, as well as the use of intuitive interfaces. Methods included thermal simulations, material testing, and user trials. The results confirmed improvements in cooking precision, energy efficiency, and ergonomics. The insights influenced oven design standards, impacting both consumer satisfaction and innovation in the industry.
Challenge
Balancing minimalist aesthetics with advanced technical functionality was the main challenge. Internal factors included maintaining a glossy black glass finish, incorporating durable materials, and providing efficient thermal insulation. Externally, manufacturing constraints and strict energy regulations require innovative engineering solutions, particularly to achieve rapid heating and precise humidity control without compromising the purity of the design.
Realization and Technology
Virtus ovens are made from high-quality anodized aluminum and black tempered glass to ensure durability and elegance. Advanced manufacturing ensures precise assembly of triple-glazed doors and sealed stainless steel cavities for superior insulation. Innovative thermal materials and heat-resistant gaskets optimize thermal stability, while sliding guides and ergonomic controls enhance the user experience.
Operation and Interaction
Users select cooking modes via a color TFT display or a central knob located on the elegant black glass panel. The oven preheats quickly to 320 degrees, while the food probe monitors internal temperatures, automatically adjusting the cooking time. Humidity settings regulate steam release for optimal texture. Sliding guides simplify tray management, ensuring precise, effortless cooking for professional-quality results.
Project Duration and Location
The Virtus project began in January 2022 at the Elica center in Fabriano, Italy, and was completed in November 2023. The project was developed and prototyped on site, followed by testing and refinement phases for users. The range was officially launched in early 2024.
Specifications
The Virtus range includes ovens measuring 590 x 590 x 560 mm, 600 x 600 x 570 mm, 900 x 600 x 570 mm, and a compact combi oven measuring 600 x 450 x 570 mm. Features include precise temperature control up to 320 degrees, electronically controlled humidity valves, integrated food probes, TFT color display or central knobs, and A+ energy efficiency rating. Sliding guides and triple-glazed doors ensure safety and ease of use.
Keywords
ovens, design, black, minimalist design, multifunction oven, pyrolytic self-cleaning, steam microwave combi, temperature probe, humidity control, energy efficiency, black glass, anodized aluminum, professional cooking

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