Umeå Institute of Design secures top spot on Red Dot Ranking

Yuan Tian and Adrian Heymann prototyping their Red Dot-winning project Airo.

ImageUmeå Institute of Design

The Red Dot Design Ranking assesses the performance of universities based on the merit of the design projects executed by their students over the past five years. This year, UID's winning student projects showcase a diverse range of designs, from an AI-powered streaming kit to a menstrual well-being assistant.

"Securing the top position is more than anything a real testament to the remarkable achievements of our students and the quality of their education," says Demian Horst, Head of Umeå Institute of Design. "We are truly privileged to get to nurture such a rich pool of talent. Our ambition continues to be to develop designers who are responsible, eager and well prepared to confront the challenges of the future. Their creative voices and powerful ideas seem to suggest that”.

Securing the top position is more than anything a real testament to the remarkable achievements of our students

Innovative student project tackles menstrual health

One of the winning projects this year is Yuchen Lan’s Orbi, a personalized concept allowing women to better manage menstrual cycles, leading to better health while also reducing the overuse of menstrual supplies. On average, a woman will experience approximately 450 menstrual cycles in her lifetime, amounting to a substantial ten-year duration dedicated to this natural biological process. Consequently, there is a growing consensus that menstrual wellness warrants greater recognition and emphasis.

Orbi is designed to help women manage their menstrual cycles in a sustainable way.

ImageUmeå Institute of Design

“Menstruation is a very personal issue. Each woman's cycle, use, and needs are different. Therefore, 'Orbi' is designed to be completely personal. By allowing the user to record usage rates for the first three cycles, 'Orbi' obtains individual data and establishes a schedule tailor-made for the user”, says Yuchen Lan.

Orbi introduces a holistic system that integrates a user-friendly mobile application with innovative hygiene containers. Its primary objective is to carefully assess the user's menstrual status, leveraging scientific principles to calculate a personalized menstrual schedule, and deliver timely reminders. Furthermore, Orbi notifies the user when abnormalities or unusual blood levels are detected, making it easier to communicate issues with one’s gynaecologist.

Portable streaming kit connects creators and viewers

With the surging popularity of live streaming, Red Dot winning students Adrian Heymann and Tian Yuan saw an opportunity to explore concepts that could help bridge the gap between streamers and viewers. Their final design, Airo, is as a portable, wirelessly connected streaming system, empowering creators to share their narratives from virtually any location.

“We always wanted to create an easy-to-use product that can suit novice streamers as well as professionals. The end goal has been to foster deeper connections between content creators and their audiences”, says Adrian Heymann.

The Airo streaming kit.

ImageUmeå Institute of Design

Through digital motion tracking, Airo enables streamers to maintain their focus on the action, while the connected stream app empowers viewers to select and control their preferred perspectives. Multiple audio and camera modules are seamlessly integrated into the setup, allowing Airo to effortlessly transition between different views, generating camera movements that would traditionally necessitate a manual operator. Utilizing smart technologies, for example machine learning eye tracking, constant eye contact during streaming could be achieved between streamers and guests.

“Winning a Red Dot is not only a powerful recognition towards the design concept itself, but also meaning the created design idea could be seen and shared globally among all the talented designers to spark more creative ideas, and in the end make our life better”, says Adrian Heymann.