Guardian 骑行头盔 by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 铜奖 in 安全服装与个人防护装备设计 Competition Category.

铜防护装备· 2025

Guardian 骑行头盔

by Leijing Zhou

Client: Zhejiang University

A' Design Award 铜奖 Winner in 防护装备 Category

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The Design

About Guardian 骑行头盔

Guardian 是一款专为聋哑骑行者设计的安全头盔。该头盔以振动提醒和抬头显示取代传统的声音警示。传感器与摄像头可探测从后方接近的车辆，头盔随即轻柔振动以提醒骑行者。发光二极管模块通过闪烁指示转向方向。发生事故后，头盔会自动拨打紧急电话，轻轻一点即可发送预设信息。外壳采用轻质丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯材料制成，内衬记忆海绵，并配有旋钮以实现贴合佩戴。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 铜奖

Guardian 骑行头盔是 A' Design Award 铜奖得主，这是授予以创造力、独创性和敏锐见长的杰出设计的极具声望的认可。铜奖得主是技艺娴熟、创意惊人的作品，印证了其设计师丰富的经验、想象力与机智。预计Guardian 骑行头盔将成为一件备受推崇、令人钦佩且被珍爱的物品，兼具显著的专业性与创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 铜奖的设计融入艺术、科学、设计和技术领域的最佳实践，并因注重细节而出类拔萃。Guardian 骑行头盔出色地满足需求，触动渴望，迷住情感，并吸引好奇心。

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