Innovation, Tech, and the Gadgety Awards: An Interview with Helena Stone

In licensing, we like to think of awards as third-party product reviews. Awards given by  publishers represent their unbiased opinion. They’ve reviewed a range of products and decided which are the best. As a result, people who follow those publishers are more likely to try those products for themselves. It’s coveted earned media for companies.

But most awards represent the opinion of just one publication. When multiple voices in media come together to give a unified opinion on something, it carries more weight. And that’s exactly the premise of the Gadgety Awards.

We recently had the chance to talk to Helena Stone, co-creator and one of the judges for the Gadgety Awards, about recognizing a need in the tech industry for a publication-spanning award program and the innovative solution she helps to provide.

EVG: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

Helena Stone: I’m the editor-in-chief of GEEKSPIN and co-creator of the Gadgety Awards alongside Brian Kolb from EVG Media. I’ve been working in media and journalism, specifically tech media, for 18 years. I also work in television, placing brands on TV. Because I’ve been testing products and covering product launches for almost two decades, that’s what led me to come up with the Gadgety Awards.

EVG: What do the Gadgety Awards offer that other tech awards don’t?

HS: What sets us apart is our concept. The Gadgety Awards started with a question: “What can we do that really demonstrates the innovation of this new product or technology?” And that’s bringing together different independent media who all are testifying that this is a truly innovative new product that’s worthy of an award. And I want to put an emphasis on “independent” media because all the judges come from different backgrounds, publications, and platforms. We each have different years of experience and different areas of expertise. When tech experts from different media publications and platforms come together to agree on which products are the best of the best, that’s powerful recognition of a product’s worthiness for an award.

EVG: How are the judges chosen?

HS: The Gadgety team chose our current judges because they’re all well-known consumer electronics experts with years of experience testing new technology products. We also chose them because each one brings a different perspective to the table, and we wanted a judge’s panel that was balanced in terms of different areas of expertise. The moment I approached our  judges, they right away were super excited about the Gadgety Awards and thought it was a great idea. The general sentiment was, “The industry needs this.”

EVG: What are some of the criteria a product needs to meet in order to win a Gadgety?

HS: At the end of the day, we look for a balance of innovation and practicality. How innovative is this? And not only how cool or unusual it is, but is it something that meets a market need? There are some really cool products out there, but if they don’t really help anyone, then that’s not what we’re looking for. Award-winning products need to exemplify innovation plus real-world practicality. 

EVG: What challenges have you faced launching these awards?

HS: Of course, getting the word out about any new project is always somewhat of a challenge. We’ve been very fortunate that word about the Gadgety Awards has spread fast. In the short time since we launched at IFA 2023, we’ve made some great partnerships, and we have more in the pipeline. All in all, the consumer electronics industry has been very receptive and excited about the Gadgety Awards, and I think that’s because it was so needed.

EVG: What has been the most rewarding part of your involvement with the Gadgety Awards?

HS: It’s a very rewarding moment to be there when brands receive awards. It’s really fun to watch a product manager or engineer get that award. For them, it’s recognition of all the hard work and effort their team has put into that new innovation. So, personally, that’s a really nice moment to experience as a judge. 

EVG: What advice do you have for anyone who’s thinking about launching an award program?

HS: First, know your industry, and second, relationships matter. That applies across any type of awards program and really any venture. Also, find a good partner, like Brian and EVG, who knows what they’re doing when it comes to awards and licensing because that’s going to make things a lot smoother. Don’t try to become an expert at something you’re not—look for experienced, knowledgeable partners to make the process more efficient.

Thanks again to Helena for taking the time to chat with us! Be sure to check out GEEKSPIN and the Gadgety Awards.