[Press Release]
Thousand Oaks, California, June 23, 2009 – World-recognized strategy, innovation, and design consultancy RKS and Water Advocacy KOR Water teamed together again to create a strategy that empowers consumers to make a difference. The result of this collaboration is the introduction of KOR’s Thirst for Giving™ program.

News of the original KOR ONE’s release was met by an immediate and overwhelming positive response. The viral PR campaign driven by RKS resulted in countless blog pickups, with the KOR ONE landing on Oprah’s “O List,” winning awards for both design and environmental preservation, and driving sales beyond all projections.

To build on this success, KOR Water enlisted RKS to create a Brand Trajectory and Product Proliferation Plan that would amplify the authenticity of the KOR brand. The first result of this effort is KOR’s new Thirst for Giving program to raise funds for water-related charities and help increase understanding of the vital role clean water plays in all our lives. Announced in conjunction of the introduction of three new KOR ONE colors, this innovative program empowers consumers to improve their health as they improve the health of the planet. “KOR’s mission is to celebrate and protect water,” said KOR founder and CEO Eric Barnes. “The Thirst for Giving program is our way of bringing more awareness to issues that deeply impact the future of water on our planet.”

The RKS strategy team first used Psycho-Aesthetics to enable KOR to identify organizations whose passions and goals aligned with KOR’s mission. Next, RKS created a strategy to create meaning… increasing the consumer’s ability to make a difference. Through this program, KOR has aligned with non-profits who are doing exceptional work related to causes KOR supports: ocean and watershed protection, the global water crisis and container recycling.

With each KOR ONE color tied to a specific cause, KOR will donate 1% of all sales to this select group. The original Ocean Blue KOR ONE supports Ocean Protection through the Agalita Marine Research Foundation. Sunrise Orange is for the Container Recycling Institute, while Sawgrass Green sales support Watershed Protection through The Wetlands Initiative. Orchid Pink is for the Global Water Crisis, with purchases supporting Blue Planet Run, a non-profit dedicated to bringing the global community together to provide safe drinking water to the more than one billion people who suffer for lack of access to clean water. “Blue Planet Run is thrilled that KOR Water recognizes how important safe drinking water is to every aspect of human life and is taking the lead in making change happen, said Lisa Nash, CEO of Blue Planet Run. “Our partnership will fund safe drinking water projects around the world, where as little as $30 can give someone a lifetime of safe drinking water.” KOR Water’s Thirst for Giving™ program is administered by 1% for the Planet, a non-profit dedicated to building and supporting an alliance of businesses that are financially committed to creating a healthy planet.

All four lustrous colors are made of BPA-free Eastman Tritan™ copolyester and include the original KOR ONE’s see-through design (eliminating worries of what might be hidden inside a metal bottle), innovative one-handed opening, a cap you can’t lose, inspirational KOR Stone inside lid, and a “just right” spout big enough for ice cubes and easy on the lips.

The Thirst for Giving program and the release of the new colors are just the beginning. “We’re excited about the new product lines we’re developing with KOR,” said Tom White, Executive Vice President of RKS. “RKS is thrilled to focus our strategy, design, and innovation teams on building the KOR Water brand and enabling them to achieve their goals.”
Designer : RKS for KOR Water

Jason says :
My objective was to use the current Lamborghini design language and apply it to their tractor line. What many people don’t know is that Lamborghini started as tractor manufacturing company, and later became famous for their exotic sports cars. I wanted to infuse the tractors exterior with the styling of today’s Lamborghini sports cars, especially the new Reventon, which applied a shattered-glass type styling to the body panels. Once my sketches were complete, I used the orthographic drawing I created to build a scale paper model of the Lamborghini Toro Tractor. I then used Alias to build a 3D model for the final result.

Designer : Jason Battersby

Text from the designer :

Natura Levo is a small wind, vertical axis wind turbine. It is a 66″ tall turbine that contains two non-traditional blades that can catch wind from any direction. These blades are fastened within a unique steel component which also houses the tapered bearings allowing the blades to spin with little friction. The center axis is a beautifully formed stationary shape that mounts to existing architecture. The intended architecture can be anything ranging from a telephone pole, to an old chimney mount, to a flag pole in a residential back yard. Natura Levo is intended to harness energy from a renewable energy source while co-existing with its natural surroundings. Natura Levo should be so beautiful that it raises awareness of natural energy by admiration of its design.

Natura Levo is made primarily of Novomer plastic, with necessary steel bearings, adjustable cylinder mount, and small housings. The steel components are machined, and with the exception of the housings, these are standard forms. The remaining steel pieces would be machined in 3 separate entities and welded together. The axis is Novomer and injection blow molded; the blades are a bit more involved. They would be formed in 4 pieces and snapped together. The nature of the rotation would strengthen the fastened segments by using the natural force. These 4 pieces would be injection molded.

Designer : Laura Sink

Designer : Daniel Pavlik – Institute of Art and Design in Pilsen, Czech Republic, DanCracker@seznam.cz