Serene Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihe Nke Na-asachapụ Mkpọtụ by Kyudo Lee

Serene Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihe Nke Na-asachapụ Mkpọtụ by Kyudo Lee is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ngwaahịa Ìhè na Ihe E Kwụnyere Competition Category.

BronzÌhè· 2026

Serene Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihe Nke Na-asachapụ Mkpọtụ

by Kyudo Lee

Client: Kyudo Lee

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ìhè Category

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The Design

About Serene Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihe Nke Na-asachapụ Mkpọtụ

Ederede Akwụkwọ: Serene Noise Purifier bụ ihe nkewa ọnụ ụlọ na-arụ ọrụ nke na-ebelata mmetọ mkpọtụ obodo ruo iri atọ desibel. Ọ na-eji teknụzụ ọkpọ olu mpempe akwụkwọ piezoelectric nke e mepụtara na MIT, nke etinyere n'ime akpụkpọ akwụkwọ PET emegharịgharịrị nke nwere nghagharị. N'ịrụ ọrụ dị ka ihe na-ezipụ olu n'azụ, ọ na-akagbu n'ụzọ siri ike ụda ahụ na-ebute nrụgide. Nhazi a nwere ntọala mabụl siri ike na ogidi osisi, nke e si n'ụlọ ọdịnala Korea nweta echiche, nke na-enye ọmarịcha ụdị dị nfe. Ngwa ọhụrụ a na-agbanwe ahụ iru ala nke ụda ka ọ bụrụ ihe bụ isi nke ahụike gburugburu.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Serene Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihe Nke Na-asachapụ Mkpọtụ meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Serene Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihe Nke Na-asachapụ Mkpọtụ ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Serene Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ihe Nke Na-asachapụ Mkpọtụ na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: To support UN sustainable goals for health and cities, this project protects urbanites from severe noise. An acoustic noise purifier uses MIT's thin speaker technology to neutralize city sounds via a flexible, noise-canceling membrane. Integrated ambient lighting reduces eye strain, complementing this acoustic sanctuary. It transforms spaces into a personal silence retreat, a quiet, protected zone to rest and enjoy daily leisure free from stress.
Dimensions & Packaging: The device utilizes MIT’s ultra-thin flexible speaker technology. A piezoelectric thin film is sandwiched between acoustic fabrics made from recycled PET. Micro-microphones detect urban low-frequency noise, triggering the active film to emit anti-phase sound waves to neutralize it. This allows a complex active noise cancellation system to be manufactured as a lightweight, flexible, and sustainable home appliance.
Tags: active noise cancellation, acoustic appliance, noise purifier, urban wellness, paper-thin speaker, soundscape control, minimalist screen, silence retreat, health and well-being, sustainable interior
Production Technology: The device utilizes MIT’s ultra-thin flexible speaker technology. A piezoelectric thin film is sandwiched between premium acoustic fabrics from recycled PET. Micro-microphones detect urban low-frequency noise, triggering the active film to emit anti-phase sound waves to neutralize it. This allows a complex active noise cancellation system to be manufactured as a lightweight, flexible, and sustainable home appliance.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge involved translating MIT's lab-grade piezoelectric speaker technology into a consumer-ready home appliance. Integrating complex electronics into flexible recycled fabrics without compromising the 30dB active noise cancellation performance required precise engineering. Furthermore, shifting from traditional noise masking methods, such as white noise machines, to spatial noise purification required redefining how users approach acoustic privacy in dense urban spaces.
Research: The project applied research to mitigate urban noise linked to cardiovascular issues and hearing loss. The methodology included acoustic testing with sound meters and interviews with 20 apartment residents. Results indicated that traditional dividers are ineffective, and continuous white noise machines can exacerbate hearing strain. The key insight was applying MIT's thin speaker technology to a physical membrane, achieving a 30dB noise reduction. This approach impacts society by replacing auditory masking with active acoustic wellness in interior environments.
Inspiration: The inspiration stems from the limitation of traditional room dividers. While they provide visual privacy, they are ineffective against urban noise. The goal was to design an acoustic curtain. Inspired by how physical boundaries block wind, the project utilizes MIT's paper-thin speakers to materialize an invisible element, silence. It translates the intangible problem of acoustic stress into a tangible, elegant interior element, actively cultivating a boundary for personal wellness in dense, chaotic cities.
Project Duration: Developed over a 16-week research and prototyping period as a Master's thesis project. The process resulted in a physical prototype, which was officially exhibited at Milan Design Week in April 2023. This global showcase validated both its aesthetic design and technical feasibility to the public.
Operation Flow: A heavy marble base provides structural stability and features a toe-tap power indicator for intuitive, ergonomic activation. To eliminate bending, the top of the stand integrates dual sliders for noise cancellation intensity and ambient lighting, ideal for night reading or screen use. This thoughtful separation of controls—foot-tap for power, fingertip for precise environmental tuning—allows users to orchestrate a perfect audiovisual sanctuary effortlessly while standing.
Patents: This project is the original intellectual property of Kyudo Lee. All rights are reserved under international copyright law. The unique concept, technical integration, and industrial design are currently under review for potential patent protection.
Team Members: Kyudo Lee - Personal Project
Image Credits: All 3D renderings, product photography, and presentation media are produced by Kyudo Lee. Milan Design Week exhibition photography is credited to Kyudo Lee.