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Serene ראש-פֿונקציע: גערויש-רייניקער by Kyudo Lee

Serene ראש-פֿונקציע: גערויש-רייניקער by Kyudo Lee is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award אין בראָנדז in באַלײַכטונג פּראָדוקטן און פֿיקסטורן דיזײַן Competition Category.


בראָנדזבאַלײַכטונג· 2026

Serene ראש-פֿונקציע: גערויש-רייניקער

by Kyudo Lee

Client: Kyudo Lee

A' Design Award אין בראָנדז Winner in באַלײַכטונג Category

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The Design

About Serene ראש-פֿונקציע: גערויש-רייניקער

בוך-טעקסט: דער סערין גערויש-רייניקער איז אַן אַקטיווער אַקוסטישער צימער-טיילער וואָס רעדוצירט שטאָטישע גערויש-פֿאַרפּעסטיקונג ביז דרײַסיק דעציבעל. ער ניצט פּיעזאָעלעקטרישע דין-פֿילם רעדנער-טעכנאָלאָגיע אַנטוויקלט בײַ MIT, אינטעגרירט אין אַ בייגעוודיקער, איבערגעאַרבעטער PET טעקסטיל-מעמבראַן. פֿונקציאָנירנדיק ווי אַ פֿאַרקערט-קלאַנג עמיטירער, נייטראַליזירט ער אַקטיוו דרוק-פֿאַרשאַפֿנדיקע פֿרעקווענצן. דער דיזײַן פֿאַרמאָגט אַ פֿעסטן מירמלשטיין-באַזע און אַ הילצערנעם זײַל, אינספּירירט פֿון טראַדיציאָנעלער קאָרעאַנישער אַרכיטעקטור, וואָס באָט אַן מינימאַליסטישע עסטעטיק. דער דאָזיקער ניטראַדיציאָנעלער אַפּאַראַט פֿאַרוואַנדלט אַקוסטישע באַקוועמלעכקייט אין אַ הויפּט-עלעמענט פֿון אַרומיקער וווילזײַן.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award אין בראָנדז

Serene ראש-פֿונקציע: גערויש-רייניקער איז אַ געווינער פֿון דעם A' Design Award אין בראָנדז, אַן העכסט פּרעסטיזשע אָנערקענונג וואָס ווערט געגעבן צו אויסגעצייכנטע דיזײַנס וואָס שטעכן אַרויס מיט קרעאַטיוויטעט, דערפֿינדונג און קלוגשאַפֿט. בראָנדז-געווינער זענען זייער בקיאותדיקע און אויפֿפֿאַלנדיק קרעאַטיווע אַרטיפֿאַקטן וואָס באַשטעטיקן די ברייטע דערפֿאַרונג, פֿאַנטאַזיע און דערפֿינדונג-קראַפֿט פֿון זייערע דיזײַנערס. פֿון Serene ראש-פֿונקציע: גערויש-רייניקער ווערט דערוואַרט אַז עס איז אַ הויך געשעצטע, באַוווּנדערטע און ליבע זאַך וואָס איז אויפֿפֿאַלנדיק פּראָפֿעסיאָנעל און אינאָוואַטיוו. דער דאָזיקער געווינענדיקער דיזײַן פֿון A' Design Award אין בראָנדז פֿאַראײניקט די בעסטע פּראַקטיקן אין קונסט, וויסנשאַפֿט, דיזײַן און טעכנאָלאָגיע, און איז אויסגעצייכנט פֿאַר זײַן אויפֿמערקזאַמקייט צו דעטאַלן. Serene ראש-פֿונקציע: גערויש-רייניקער באַפֿרידיקט באַדערפֿענישן פּראַכטפֿול, רירט אָן תּאוות, פֿאַרכּישופֿט געפֿילן און רופֿט נײַגעריקייט.

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.

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