Nova Smart Switch by VDA Telkonet , designed by the international architecture and design firm Gensler , has been selected for the ADI Design Index 2025 — the official collection of the best Italian design projects competing for the Compasso d’Oro award.
This recognition celebrates an approach that blends technology, aesthetic sensitivity, and sustainability, redefining the role of the physical interface as a bridge between guest and environment.
Nova’s inclusion in the ADI Design Index confirms the vision of VDA Telkonet, a company that for over forty years has been developing Guest Room Management Systems (GRMS) and Energy Management Systems (EMS) for the hospitality sector.
Its selection marks an important milestone for a company that places design at the heart of technology, promoting a more human and conscious approach to hospitality.
NOVA
A New Language for Hospitality
After years in which the flush-mounted trend dominated interiors, Nova Smart Switch introduces a new direction: the switch once again becomes a visible and distinctive element, a design feature that contributes to the identity of the space.
The designers at Gensler envisioned the switch of the future as a physical interface that connects guest and environment through form, material, and light.
Combining thermostat and smart switch in a single body, Nova enables intuitive and natural control of temperature, lighting, and room access.
Its modular design allows finishes — in polycarbonate, metal, glass, or customized materials — to be replaced without changing the internal electronics, reducing waste and extending the product’s life cycle.
A principle that embodies VDA Telkonet’s circular sustainability philosophy across its entire range of solutions.
Design, Sustainability, and Italian Craftsmanship
Entirely designed and manufactured in Italy, Nova reflects the fusion of engineering expertise, design culture, and local craftsmanship, with a strong focus on durability and aesthetic customization.
The collaboration with Gensler — a global design and architecture studio — has merged VDA Telkonet’s technical know-how with an international design vision focused on user experience and sustainable innovation.
“We wanted the product to be multi-material, sustainable, with a longer lifecycle and fewer components, to ensure maximum customization,”
explains Piercarlo Gramaglia, CEO of VDA Telkonet
“Nova represents the perfect synthesis between our technological identity and the culture of Italian design.”
With Nova, VDA Telkonet reinforces its position as an innovator in the hospitality world, pursuing a vision that integrates comfort, efficiency, and environmental responsibility into a single, cohesive design experience.
