LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022: memory-evoking device for dementia wins grand prix

LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 crowns its grand prix winner

with 1,726 entries from 57 different countries and regions narrowed down to just six innovative works and finalists, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 announces its highly anticipated grand prix winner. Titled Rewind, Poh Yun Ru’s design enhances technology to help people affected by dementia to access their memories. The innovation optimizes Lexus’ mission to design for a better tomorrow.

Follow the path to success, below, with the work of the six finalists of LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022, the invaluable and unique mentorship program, and the experienced and expert judging advice.

LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 grand prix winner Poh Yun Ru holding the trophy designed by their 2013 winner Hideki Yoshimoto of Tangent

10th edition of LEXUS DESIGN AWARD

Established in 2013, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD was founded as an international design competition to shape a better future. Next-generation creative talents – and their ideas – are supported and nurtured with the global platform, media awareness, and professional advice as they forge their own careers. As it celebrates its 10th edition, Lexus’ mission continues as, now more than ever, design is believed to have the ability to enhance the happiness of everyone.

(left © Calico) Sam Baron, Design and Creative Director of Sam Baron & Co; and (right) Joe Doucet, Designer and Founder of Joe Doucet x Partners

Mentors of LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022

The mentorship program has always been an invaluable and unique benefit of the international design competitions. Once the entries have been shortlisted to six finalists, they gain the opportunity to receive precious experience and advice from leading global creators. For 2022, the mentors included Sam Baron, Design and Creative Director of Sam Baron & Co; Joe Doucet, Founder of Doucet x Partners; Yosuke Hayano, Principal Partner of MAD Architects; and Sabine Marcelis, Designer and Founder of Studio Sabine Marcelis. Finalists were able to develop and prototype their original proposals under the guidance of these mentors.

‘It has been a very rich experience to follow the path of all these young designers in the past months. Either because they were a group, or single researchers they opened up some territories where design is playing a true role, and for that I am thankful to them. Also they have been demonstrating a force of adaption, listening and rethinking that thanks to the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD is quite unique. Our mentoring, each of us focusing on its dedicated task, is such an opportunity to generate a common sense of design on both parts, finalists and mentors under the umbrella of the Award initiative,’ adds Sam Baron.

(left) Yosuke Hayano, Principal Partner of MAD Architects; and (right © Anne Timmer) Sabine Marcelis, Designer and Founder of Studio Sabine Marcelis

Mentors of LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022

LEXUS DESIGN AWARD judges, for the first time in the 2022 edition, also shared expert advice after the final presentations. The four experts held one-to-one sessions with each finalist, benefiting the aspiring creatives with meaningful feedback and input on their developing designs. The judges for 2022 comprised Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA, New York; Anupama Kundoo, Architect and Founder of Anupama Kundoo Architects; Bruce Mau, Co-founder and CEO of Massive Change Network; and Simon Humphries, Head of Toyota and Lexus Global Design.

‘The LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalists offer a wide range of products in different fields of design, employing different types of technology, but they all have one thing in common: care. Care for the environment, care for the elderly and differently able, care for the needs of families and communities, and more. They demonstrate that at a time of emergency in the world, design can offer suggestions that are poetic and beautiful, and also feasible and scalable. In the hands of great designers, doing the right thing – by society, the environment, the world – also becomes inspiring and elating,’ comments Paola Antonelli.

Judges of LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022

(left © Andreas Deffner) Anupama Kundoo, Architect and Founder of Anupama Kundoo Architects; and (right) Simon Humphries, Head of Toyota and Lexus Global Design

Judges of LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022

2022 grand prix winner: rewind by Poh Yun Ru

As the grand prix winner of LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022, Rewind by Poh Yun Ru exemplifies a design for a better tomorrow. The Singapore-based product designer seeks to create a positive impact on society by improving the lives of others through her work. Designed to evoke memories, the motion-tracking tool guides those who suffer with dementia in re-enacting familiar gestures. These actions are then mirrored as audio-visual feedback on a paired device to trigger recollection. As a result, the design improves communication to strengthen a patient’s emotional connection to people.

‘I feel immensely grateful that Rewind is now a step closer to improving the lives of more people. This couldn’t have happened without the unwavering support of my mentors, my team of dedicated engineers, programmers, healthcare experts, and users. This opportunity from LEXUS DESIGN AWARD to turn a project into a real-world product felt nothing short of amazing, and I feel heartened to have met and learned from so many passionate designers from around the world. It has been such a rewarding and inspiring journey, and I am excited to continue designing for a better world and a better tomorrow for all,’ explains Poh Yun Ru.

Rewind by Poh Yun Ru

Poh Yun Ru, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 grand prix winner

2022 finalist: Chitofarm by Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres

Chitofarm by Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres is an innovative mealworm-powered biodigester. Classmates at the Pratt Institute studying their Master’s of Industrial Design, the collaborative design practice explores material-driven innovation, empathic technologies, and human-centric factors. The new design focuses on the principles of regeneration as the idea repurposes resources to benefit society, economy and people. Chitofarm facilities a simple natural process – the small but mighty mealworm – to solve the man-made problem of polystyrene foam waste. This localized solution puts the power of change into the hands of the individual, together benefiting the entire world.

Chitofarm by Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres

Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalist

2022 finalist: hammock wheelchair by wondaleaf

As its name suggests, Wondaleaf’s Hammock Wheelchair combines the features of a wheelchair, hammock and forklift to aid caregivers to move and transfer patients. A cloth acts as a pallet whilst the two prongs of the wheelchair functions like a forklift. The solution ensures caregivers do not have to manually lift patients. Consisting of employees from a Malaysian medical device innovation company, the team members of Wondaleaf each specialize in different aspects of the design and production process: Alex Wong, Reuben Tang, Louis Tang, Wong Ping Ming, John Tang, Lau Yien Yien, and Sii How Sing. The project builds upon the daily experiences of the team, as they encountered difficulties caring for patients whilst working at a nursing home. These insights were strengthened through further advice for patients, families, doctors and other medical professionals.

Hammock Wheelchair by Wondaleaf

Wondaleaf, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalist

2022 finalist: Ina Vibe by Team Dunamis

Ina Vibe by Team Dunamis is a solar-powered, insulated electric burner equipped with a battery pack for charging and lighting. The tool enables users to cook, power, and light in a sustainable, environmentally friendly and healthy method. The design was developed by a group of five graduates of Engineering and Business Management from Landmark University and Rivers State University in Nigeria. Ina Vibe is inspired by first-hand experience in the country as communities suffer from energy poverty. Together the team creates energy solutions, human-centered products and systems geared towards bettering Nigeria and the African continent.

Ina Vibe by Team Dunamis

Team Dunamis, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalist

2022 finalist: Sound Eclipse by Kristil & Shamina

Sound Eclipse by Kristil & Shamina is an acoustic device that provides a quiet environment in interiors. The industrial design collaboration combines the expertise of Shamil Sahabiev – an industrial designer – and Kristina Loginova – a product manager – with the aim of creating objects that benefit society. The idea for the design came from two opposing issues of urban life: open windows provide fresh air but let in harmful urban noise; whereas closed windows block out sound but affect indoor air quality. Installed in front of half-open windows, the design’s microphone on the back captures noise. Its speakers then emit sound waves of identical amplitude to the original noise. The waves cancel each other out to reduce exterior sound.

Sound Eclipse by Kristil & Shamina

Kristil & Shamina, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalist

2022 finalist: Tacomotive by Kou Mikuni

Tacomotive by Kou Mikuni defines a new haptic language – one that is said to better facilitate tactile communication in the future. As the reader runs of the design, tactile sensations are created by the cut structures to deliver information sensorily. The experience is more akin to color than traditional text. Tacomotive was designed by a graduate from the Department of Integrated Science at the University of Tokyo, who also previously studied Design at the School of Engineering at the same university. Kou Mikuni was inspired by the work of his father – a teacher at a school for the deaf and blind – who spoke about the beauty of communication through touch.

Tacomotive by Kou Mikuni

Kou Mikuni, LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalist

On their journeys to success, all the six finalists’ projects made the evolution from idea to prototype. The invaluable mentorship program, together with the expert advice for judges, encouraged the designers to push their creativity further as they design for a better tomorrow.

award info:

brand: Lexus

award: LEXUS DESIGN AWARD

year: 2022

grand prix winner: Poh Yun Ru

finalists: Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres, Wondaleaf, Team Dunamis, Kristil & Shamina, and Kou Mikuni