Developed across two universities and cultures, Light Brain (轻脑) emerged from a semester-long industrial design studio jointly conducted at the Divison of Industrial Design (DID), Zhejiang University (ZJU) and the China Academy of Art during the Student Exchange Programme (SEP) in Summer 2025, and was later recognised as one of the Bronze Award winners at the Design Intelligence Award (DIA) 2025.
The DIA is an international industrial design competition and innovation platform established in 2015, with entries from over 87 countries and regions.
Working with three peers (Gao Yuxuan, Qian Kaihang and Meng Liwen) based in China, our Year 4 Industrial Design students, Ong Yong Qing, Hailey Yang Yixuan and Vilmos Soh, set out to design a non-invasive migraine intervention wearable that prioritised discretion, comfort, and everyday confidence, challenging the conventional aesthetics of medical devices. The focus was on industrial design and product architecture: translating complex neuromodulation technology into a lightweight, non-stigmatising form factor suitable for public use.
The wearable is supported by a companion app that fits into the therapy workflow with minimal interaction. During a typical session, users can rest for around 45 minutes while the wearable delivers neuromodulation therapy. After the session, the app prompts a brief check-in for users to rate comfort and perceived relief, supporting longer-term optimisation and personalisation while keeping the experience calm, discreet, and low-effort.
The cross-border studio experience pushed the team into unfamiliar territory. Collaborating with BrainCo, a leading Hangzhou-based tech company, meant designing around real neuromodulation hardware rather than speculative concepts, and balancing strict medical requirements with consumer usability and aesthetics.
The project’s biggest challenge surfaced after the exchange ended. With team members split between Singapore and China, collaboration continued remotely despite clashing academic schedules and differing commitments. Designing a physical hardware product without being able to touch it tested the team deeply, particularly in Industrial Design, where weight, texture, and ergonomics are critical. Progress depended on trust, disciplined communication, and countless late-night WeChat video calls, where detailed visual checks helped ensure the prototype’s physical “feel” met shared standards despite the distance.
“Not being able to touch the product was the hardest part,” shared Yong Qing. “It forced us to trust our teammates and communicate with a level of clarity we hadn’t needed before. That experience changed how I see design, as something built collectively, not individually.”
Light Brain offers a glimpse into how exchange-based studios expose students to cross-border collaboration, real-world constraints, and international design contexts, extending learning beyond the classroom!
Read more about Light Brain here:
Photo credits: Design Intelligence Award 2025, Ong Yong Qing
About DIA 2025
The Design Intelligence Award (DIA) is an international industrial design competition established in 2015 and hosted by the China Academy of Art, with support from the Zhejiang Provincial Government. It serves as a global platform that evaluates and promotes innovation at the intersection of design, technology, and industry, attracting submissions from around the world.
Congratulations to the team!
- 王詠庆 Ong Yong Qing (CDE Industrial Design, Year 4)
- 杨奕轩 Hailey Yang Yixuan (CDE Industrial Design, Year 4)
- 苏智涵 Vilmos Soh Zhi Han (CDE Industrial Design, Year 4)
- 高煜暄 Gao Yuxuan (Zhejiang University Industrial Design, Year 4)
- 钱恺行 Qian Kaihang (Zhejiang University Industrial Design, Year 4)
- 孟丽文 Meng Liwen (China Academy of Art, Intelligence Design Research, Masters Year 2)
