Vapora Kōhua Kōmamaoa by Nam Soojung is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Taputapu Tunu, Rīhi, Inu me te Kuku Competition Category.

HiriwaTaputapu Kīhini· 2026

Vapora Kōhua Kōmamaoa

by Nam Soojung

Client: Delione

A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Taputapu Kīhini Category

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Colors

The Design

About Vapora Kōhua Kōmamaoa

He kōhua kōmamaoa a Vapora i hoahoatia mō te tunu kai tere ake, hauora ake hoki. Ka whakakotahihia e te kōhua nei te mamaoa ngāwari me te wera maroke pēnei i te pae tunutunu. Ko te tinana me te taupoki whai kōwao he mea hanga mai i te hiliconi kōura mā kounga-kai e ātete ana i te wera, ā, ko ngā kōwao ka whakarite i te pēhanga o roto kia rite tonu te tiotio o te mamaoa. Ko te paepae teitei he mea hanga ki te polystyrene syndiotactic ka mimiti i te pūngao ngaruiti, ka whakawhiti i te wera ki te kai mai i raro, e pai ake ai te whakatakoto o te kai me te pupuri tonu i te mākū o ngā kai. Ka rere atu te wai me te hinu tuwhene mō ngā kai māmā ake. He māmā a Vapora ki te whakamahi, ki te horoi, ki te whakatakoto hoki.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Hiriwa

Ko Vapora Kōhua Kōmamaoa te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Vapora Kōhua Kōmamaoa he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Vapora Kōhua Kōmamaoa he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Vapora combines gentle steam with grill like dry heat for faster, healthier cooking. a heat resistant silicone body and vented lid regulate pressure and ensure even circulation. inside, an elevated SPS tray absorbs heat and transfers it to food from below, creating better texture while keeping ingredients moist. excess water and fat drain away, producing lighter meals. easy to use, clean, and store, it transforms everyday microwave cooking into a premium experience.
Dimensions & Packaging: technical specifications (Metric ISO):
main steamer: 168 mm W x 285 mm D x 88 mm H. weight: 1518 g.
mini pot: 128 mm W x 167 mm D x 106 mm H.
material: 6 mm high density food grade platinum silicone.
temperature range: minus 40 to 230 C.
packaging: modular, nestable design optimized for minimum volumetric footprint and efficient logistics.
Tags: Microwave Steamer, Platinum Silicone, Sustainable Cookware, Healthy Cooking, DeliOne, Kitchen Innovation, Grill Steamer, Eco-friendly Kitchenware, Pressure Regulation, Meal Prep
Production Technology: the body and vented lid are compression molded from heat resistant, food grade platinum silicone for structural and thermal stability. the internal heating tray is injection-molded using Syndiotactic Polystyrene (SPS), a high heat polymer chosen for its microwave absorbing capabilities. the product's geometry and venting mechanisms were engineered utilizing computational thermal flow analysis to optimize pressure regulation and ensure even steam circulation throughout the cooking cycle.
Design Challenge: the main challenge was balancing the flexibility of food grade platinum silicone with the structural rigidity required for safe handling at 220 C. complying with strict FDA and LFGB safety laws restricted material choices. overcoming the production complexity of integrating a rigid heat absorbing SPS tray within a flexible silicone body was a major hurdle. additionally, we had to shift the social perspective that microwave cooking yields poor soggy results by delivering grill like quality.
Research: material research aimed to develop a safe microwave steamer. through comparative analysis, we evaluated glass, PP, and PPSU against platinum silicone. results showed glass is heavy, PPSU expensive, and PP unsafe at high heat. platinum silicone, being FDA approved and 220 C resistant, was ideal but lacked rigidity. the key insight was integrating a rigid SPS inner tray for structure. Impacting society, this affordable design sets a new standard for safe, functional, and healthy cookware.
Inspiration: this project was inspired by repeated observations that conventional microwave steamers produced uneven results and lacked surface texture. drawing on materials research and thermal-flow analysis, the design team explored combining regulated steam circulation with dry-heat transfer from a high-performance tray. the goal was to elevate microwave cooking to professional standards of consistency, flavor, and safety through engineering-driven design.
Project Duration: the project started in april 2025 in Seoul, South Korea, with initial conceptualization and material research. the engineering and prototyping phases were successfully completed in January 2026. mass production and the official global market launch took place in February 2026. the design introduces a new standard for sustainable, efficient, and healthy microwave culinary preparation.
Operation Flow: users simply place ingredients on the elevated tray, secure the lid, and microwave. the smartly vented lid automatically regulates internal steam pressure, requiring no manual adjustment. post cooking, flexible, cool touch handles ensure safe removal. unlike standard microwaving that leaves food soggy, the heat absorbing tray delivers a unique grill like texture while preserving moisture. this intuitive, hands off interaction makes healthy, gourmet style cooking fast and effortless.
Team Members: Soojung Nam
Woohyun Bach
Dennis Hon