A team of students and academics from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) has won a “Red Dot” for Cintréa, an innovative collection of 3D-printed ceramic jewellery. The pieces are now on display at the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore, marking the first time a UNNC design entry has been selected for the museum’s collection.
Led by Dr Jiang Wu from the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, the team developed a novel technique that uses the natural shrinkage of ceramic during high-temperature sintering to secure lab-grown diamonds without traditional metal settings. The project brings together the creative vision of Product Design and Manufacture student Ziyi Huang and the materials research expertise of Chemical Engineering PhD student Yuqi Zhang, demonstrating how interdisciplinary collaboration can transform traditional manufacturing techniques into innovative design solutions.
The project was supported by a team of academics across design, materials science and advanced manufacturing. Dr Yinfeng He, Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham’s Centre for Additive Manufacturing in the UK, contributed expertise in ceramic materials and 3D-printing processes, while Dr Yi Nie, Assistant Professor in Intelligent Manufacturing at UNNC, supported the design and optimisation of the lattice structure. Dr Wu guided the integration of technologies, modular design and prototype development.
“When industrial design, materials science and advanced manufacturing come together, they can produce design solutions that would be difficult to imagine within a single discipline—and even transform traditional manufacturing techniques,” Dr Wu said.
The team is continuing to refine the materials and manufacturing processes to expand the range of jewellery designs, showcasing UNNC’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and turning research innovation into creative, real-world applications.
Published on 15 October 2026