Miss Hu Hongci and Dr Yan Yishu honoured at Red Dot Design Award 2024

We are delighted to announce that Ms Hu Hongci, a collaborative research student supervised by Professor Kinor Jiang; co-supervised by Professor Zheng Zijian of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU; and Dr Bai Ziqian of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), has been honoured with the prestigious Best of the Best Award in the Design Concept category of the Red Dot Design Award 2024 for their groundbreaking project, NexLoop.

NexLoop is an interactive, seamless knitted glove specifically designed for medical and rehabilitation purposes. By integrating advanced electronic textile technology, the glove enables accurate detection of hand movements and tactile sensations, thus providing therapeutic support. Electrical stimulation patches are strategically positioned around the fingers and wrist joints to deliver tactile feedback to the fingertips. The seamless knitted design ensures that the glove is lightweight, flexible, and breathable, while the innovative fabrication technique ensures both wear comfort and functionality.

In addition to this achievement, Dr Yan Yishu, a former research student under the supervision of Professor Kinor Jiang and Dr Zhou Jinyuan, now the Associate Professor of the School of Design at Nanjing University of the Arts, has been awarded Winner of the Red Dot Design Award 2024 for her innovative project, Aqualoop. Aqualoop’s distinctive aesthetic uses different digital knitting patterns to create a unique 3D texture that responds to the body’s contours, thus creating a dynamic interplay between clothing and the wearer. The transformative construction of this adaptive fabric provides opportunities for different styles and outfits with minor adjustments. The zero-waste manufacturing process utilises all of the fabric, and the streamlined production advances adaptable, eco-friendly fashion.

These awards not only recognise the innovative design and potential of NexLoop and Aqualoop but also highlight their contributions to smart wearable and knitwear design trends and future developments, which align with sustainable design principles and intelligent manufacturing.

About the Red Dot Design Award

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the most prestigious international design competitions, and well-known for recognising exceptional creativity and innovation. The Design Concept category specifically celebrates groundbreaking ideas that are not yet in production to offer a platform for recognising visionary concepts. The award honours projects that demonstrate both originality and the potential for future realisation. Among the thousands of entries submitted annually, only about 15% receive the Winner award, while the top 1-2% designs receive the Best of the Best Award, which make them one the highest honours in the design world.