Guardian Kāhiko Poʻo Kaʻa Paikikala by Leijing Zhou

Guardian Kāhiko Poʻo Kaʻa Paikikala by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Lole Palekana a me Lako Pale Pilikino Competition Category.

KeleaweLako Pale· 2025

Guardian Kāhiko Poʻo Kaʻa Paikikala

by Leijing Zhou

Client: Zhejiang University

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Lako Pale Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #172601

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Guardian Kāhiko Poʻo Kaʻa Paikikala

ʻO Guardian kahi mahiole palekana i hoʻolālāʻia no ka poʻe kaʻa paikikala kuli a ʻāhewa. Ke hoʻololi nei ka mahiole i nā aʻo leo me nā hōʻailona haʻalulu a me kahi hōʻike i luna o ke poʻo. ʻIke nā mīkini ʻike (sensors) a me nā pahupaʻikiʻi i nā kaʻa e hoʻokokoke mai ana mai hope mai, a haʻalulu mālie ka mahiole e aʻo aku ai i ka mea holo. ʻAlapalapa nā ʻāpana LED e hōʻike i nā kuhikuhina huli. Ma hope o kahi ulia pōpilikia, kāhea ʻia kahi kelepona pōpilikia ma ke ʻano ʻakomi, a hoʻouna ʻia kahi leka i mākaukau mua ʻia ma ka pā mālie ʻana. Hana ʻia ka pale waho me ka ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) māmā, a loaʻa i loko he mea uhi memory foam a me kahi puʻupuʻu no ke kūpono maikaʻi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Guardian Kāhiko Poʻo Kaʻa Paikikala i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Guardian Kāhiko Poʻo Kaʻa Paikikala he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Guardian Kāhiko Poʻo Kaʻa Paikikala i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Due to their inability to communicate effectively through speech and sound, deaf-mute individuals may face significant dangers when traveling, lacking essential information about road conditions. The deaf-mute safety helmet robustly protects cyclists with smart technology, sensors, and an advanced HUD system. It alerts them to traffic conditions through precise vibrations, sustaining alertness. The helmet significantly bolsters safety while cycling, lowering accident risks.
Dimensions & Packaging: 250 (mm) x 200 (mm) x 200 (mm)
Tags: Inclusive Design, Deaf-Mute Safety, Smart Helmet, Assistive Technology, Urban Mobility, Vibration Feedback, Road Safety
Production Technology: The design was developed through user-centered research, focusing on the travel challenges faced by deaf-mute individuals. Prototyping involved computer-aided design modeling and iterative testing with simulated vibration and head-up display feedback. The helmet is envisioned using lightweight acrylonitrile butadiene styrene for the shell, memory foam for comfort, and integrates sensors, cameras, and light-emitting diode modules to ensure safety and usability.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was designing a system that replaces sound-based warnings with intuitive, non-auditory feedback. Socially, deaf-mute cyclists are often overlooked, with few products considering their needs. Technologically, integrating sensors, HUD, and vibration modules into a compact, wearable form was complex. Limited reference cases and data made user research crucial. Overcoming these challenges required empathy, iteration, and creative use of existing tech in new ways.
Research: Amid honks and sirens, sound protects most but leaves deaf-mute cyclists exposed. We conducted user-centered design research aiming to improve their travel safety. Through interviews, observations, and journey mapping, we gathered insights from deaf-mute individuals and cyclists. Results revealed key dangers like missed warnings and lack of emergency help. This led to features like vibration alerts and auto-alarm, promoting inclusive design and raising awareness in both society and mobility products.
Inspiration: This project was inspired by the overlooked risks faced by deaf-mute cyclists in sound-dominated traffic environments. Motivated by a desire to create inclusive safety solutions, I explored how smart technology could bridge the sensory gap. Grounded in user-centered research and assistive tech studies, the design aims to challenge auditory bias in urban mobility and offer a more equitable, responsive riding experience for all.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2023 in China and finished in October 2024 in China.
Operation Flow: The helmet is easy to use—just wear it and ride as usual. It gently vibrates to warn you if something gets too close from behind, and flashes lights to keep you alert. When it's time to turn, it shows directions and flashes the right signal. If an accident happens, it automatically calls for help. With just a light tap, you can also send a preset message. It fits snugly with a twist of the knob, making cycling safer and more reassuring.
Team Members: Menghan Li
Leijing Zhou
Xiaofei Gong
Xiaotong Guan
Xinmiao Shen
Ding Ding
Kaiyue Cai
Jinjie Li
Qianyi Wang
Keyin Chen
Zixiang Wang
Zihan Zhang