At the recent 2011 Good Design Awards presented by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, no fewer than six BMW Group models received recognition. Of these, 4 are BMW automobiles while 2 are motorcycles. The automobiles include the BMW 6 Series Convertible, BMW 6 Series Coupe, BMW 1 Series M Coupe and BMW ActiveE while the bikes consist of the BMW K 1600 GT/GTL and BMW G650 GS.

BMW Group Design has already won the coveted design award several times in the past. Last year it was the BMW 5 Series Sedan, the MINI Countryman, the BMW S 1000 RR and the BMW Concept 6 design study that captured the prestigious prize.

The annual Good Design Award ranks as the most celebrated international accolade in the field of product design. The prize is awarded based on the criteria of functionality and aesthetics and is now complemented by an ecological aspect that stipulates sustainable design in keeping with our times. In the 2011 edition, the independent jury of design experts and architects had to go through more than 500 product designs and graphics from 38 countries before selecting the winners.

These trademarked awards were created in Chicago in 1950 by three architects: Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. The Good Design Awards aim to give international recognition for designers and manufacturers when they devise innovative products through invention and originality, beyond what is considered ordinary product and consumer design.

Some photos of the BMW's winning entries can be found below.