PolyU Design Recognised with Multiple Honours in the Prestigious iF Design Award

Prof. Stephen Wang's projects, EmoFriends and the Transparent Knee Guard, were both awarded in the category of Product Concepts in the Professional Concept discipline with their innovative design and cutting-edge sensing technology. Additionally, Prof. Roberto Vilchis Echeverri's Flocks of Type was honoured in the Typography/Signage category of the Communication discipline for its amazing calendar design that pushed the boundaries of typography.

The iF Design Award is one of the most prestigious international design awards, covering a wide range of fields. This award aims to highlight the global significance and societal relevance of design while also promoting innovation to create a brighter future. The winning projects from PolyU Design are one of the best among the almost 11,000 submissions from 66 countries – an impressive achievement that underlines the highly competitive nature of this award.

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Awarded Project

Emofriends
By Prof. Stephen Wang and his team

Leveraging patented and innovative Emosense technology, it monitors stress levels via touch, offering AI-driven, emotion-aware conversations and feedback. With advanced stress tracking and customisable features, EmoFriends provides emotional support and companionship. This innovative solution enhances emotional well-being with accessible, personalised care in a sustainable, user-friendly design. This outstanding projects also won the gold award in the HK Techathon+ 2025 and Global Design Awards.

Transparent Knee Guard
By Prof. Stephen Wang and his team

The Transparent Knee Guard revolutionary rehabilitation aid is designed for athletes and healthcare applications and features a transparent and flexible structure. The knee guard incorporates advanced technology to monitor joint function and support customized treatment plans. It provides valuable insights through actionable data visualisation, empowering medical research and enabling informed decision-making. This project also awarded the MicroFund Top Performer, Good Design US and Global Design Awards.

Flocks of Type
By Prof. Roberto Vilchis Echeverri and his team
The Flocks of Type is the PolyU Design 60th Anniversary Calendar, featuring an innovative design that pushed the boundaries of typography. The design was inspired by the movement of flocks of migrating birds in the sky, as well as the typographic experiments from Swiss and German designers of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly Emil Ruder and Wolfgang Weingart. This project also awarded in Golden Pin Design Award 2024.