Students Shen Yancheng, Liu Yihe, Tong Yishan, Zhao Fengyi, Liu Haichuan and Wen Guanhong, from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) have won the prestigious Red Dot Design Concept Award 2025 with their projects Optibrick, Ergonomic Mouse with Adjustable Inflatable Cushion, and Pebble Ease.
As one of the most renowned and influential global competitions in the field of design, this year’s Red Dot Design Concept Award received nearly 4,000 submissions from over 40 countries worldwide.
UNNC Product Design and Manufacture (PDM) graduate Shen Yancheng designed Pebble Ease, a massage sofa chair that redefines wellness furniture by integrating EEG-based sensing into ergonomic design.
UNNC Innovative Product Design and Manufacture students Tong Yishan and Zhao Fengyi created the world’s first inflatable input device engineered for personalised ergonomics.
UNNC Innovative Product Design and Manufacture students Liu Haichuan and Wen Guanhong designed Optibrick, a modular light-transmitting concrete material that addresses the high cost, bulky form, and complex construction challenges associated with traditional customised translucent concrete.
Behind all three award-winning projects lies a shared foundation of industry collaboration and interdisciplinary innovation. Pebble Ease and the Ergonomic Mouse were developed in partnership with iRest Health Tech Co., Ltd., while Optibrick was created in collaboration with Ningbo SUC Light & Power Technology Co., Ltd. and co-supervised by faculty members from Product Design and Manufacture (PDM) and Civil Engineering. This reflects UNNC’s strength in fostering cross-disciplinary education and practice.
Professor Sun Xu, Associate Dean for Global Engagement and Partnerships and Professor in Product Design and Manufacture at UNNC, commented:
“Through partnerships with companies such as Boeing, Geely, and iRest, students engage in real-world projects from user research to prototype testing. This model brings together diverse resources, accelerating the journey from concept to measurable results and transforming design thinking from inspiration into impact.”
Published on 18 October 2025