LEXUS DESIGN AWARD LOCAL 2024 WINNERS
AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
-
Daniel Brink
1st place: Myolink
Daniel Brink
1st place: Myolink
Daniel Brink’s MyoLink is a wearable EMG sensor system designed to prevent lumbar muscle strain in construction workers. The sensor, integrated into a belt, collects health data such as muscle strain, heart rate, and temperature, sending alerts via an app if the user approaches unsafe conditions. MyoLink supports natural movement to promote lasting health and provides employers with safety insights, aiming to reduce costly injuries and improve workplace safety in construction.
-
Deanna Griffin
2nd place: Sustainbale Service Ware
Deanna Griffin
2nd place: Sustainbale Service Ware
Sustainable Service Ware reimagines long-haul economy in-flight service ware to improve passenger comfort and environmental sustainability. The design reduces clutter, eases service for flight attendants, and cuts waste by using modular, stackable trays crafted from recycled materials. Key innovations include seaweed-based, biodegradable single-use items and durable, lightweight ceramic containers that withstand industrial washing, reducing reliance on disposable plastic. This streamlined system saves storage space and decreases onboard weight, lowering fuel consumption.
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
-
Pia Sutherland
1st place: baBI
Pia Sutherland
1st place: baBI
baBI is a modular, remote monitoring network designed to advance conservation in New Zealand. Each core device can support various sensors—such as weather, soil, and camera—tailored to specific ecological needs. Distributed across the country, the devices send real-time data to a central database for AI-driven analysis. An online tool provides customisable insights, enabling conservation groups, iwi, and citizens to respond proactively to environmental threats, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
-
Giselle Conway
2nd place: Worn Again
Giselle Conway
2nd place: Worn Again
Worn Again is an educational workshop focused on closed-loop textile recycling, aimed at reducing New Zealand's textile waste. Community members are encouraged to bring their unwearable garments, which are shredded and spun into yarn at the Worn Again recycling facility. By teaching participants to recycle discarded clothing into new materials, such as yarn for rugs or coasters, the workshop fosters a hands-on understanding of sustainable practices. This circular approach not only diverts textiles from landfills but also reduces reliance on virgin resources. Worn Again empowers communities to adopt more mindful consumption habits, promoting a culture that values reuse and waste reduction in everyday life.
View the Lexus Design Award Local 2024 gallery (password: B459F)
LEXUS DESIGN AWARD LOCAL 2023 WINNERS
Auckland University of Technology
-
Tom Saran and Antoine Helean
1st place: Fire Aid
Tom Saran and Antoine Helean
1st place: Fire Aid
The designers wanted to provide a technological solution that would feed firefighters the information they need to stay safe and work effectively as a team. What does it do? The heads-up display allows firefighters to access thermal imaging, real-time hazard detection, and vital situation data. The user can access crucial information about temperature gradients, gas levels, building blueprints, location of civilians and other firefighters, all in real time through a translucent display.
-
Yeaseo Im
2nd place: Cocoon
Yeaseo Im
2nd place: Cocoon
Memories of hiding in small spaces and creating imaginary worlds are cherished in many people's childhoods. This behaviour extends beyond play; it is closely tied to the development of a child's self-reliance and the capacity to regulate their thoughts and emotions independently. Any child can experience sensory overload, especially in modern society, where high levels of visual, auditory, or haptic stimuli surround them. These stimulations can become a more severe trigger for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), impacting their learning opportunities, well-being and overall development. Cocoon is a room divider that can transform into a tent, offering a calming space for children in their homes or new environments when they feel overwhelmed by their surroundings.
University of Auckland
-
Fiona Yoon
1st place: ARctive
Fiona Yoon
1st place: ARctive
ARctive is a remote exercise therapy programme for elders, using augmentedreality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to promote holistic well-being and combat depression. It targets social, emotional, and spiritual well-being, focusing on physical well-being, a crucial yet often overlooked mental health aspect. ARctive comprises three main components guided by an avatar named Arc. These elements include an augmented reality exercise space for brain training and physical exercise, personalised avatars' advice, and a health progress and community support page. The ideal design envisions seamless integration through voice commands on a single AR-headset platform, but for this prototype, the components are separate.
-
MacKenzie Carkeek
2nd place: Haptic Patch
MacKenzie Carkeek
2nd place: Haptic Patch
Enhancing limb perception through haptic VR is a ground breaking design that uses haptic technology and virtual reality to alleviate the physical and emotional distress experienced by amputees with phantom limb sensations. This condition is a complex interplay of physical and mental aspects, challenging self-perception. The project uses the "Haptic Patch," a device designed for amputees, to reduce or increase sensations of a phantom limb and bridge the emotional gap between the physical and mental self. When activated, the Haptic Patch attaches to the residual limb, sending pulses that stimulate nerves, providing relief from the torment of phantom limb sensations.