The inspiration for the design by NTUST Department of Industrial Design students Shih Pao-cheng and Huang Yu-hsuan came from the movie "Everest" and news reports about hikers suffering from hypothermia. They wanted to provide effective help to climbers facing hypothermia crises, so they consulted many friends from hiking clubs and mountain guides, and studied the designs of various hiking backpacks and wearable heating devices.
They found that most existing wearable heating devices are designed mainly for home use, with few specifically addressing hypothermia. As a result, they integrated rescue equipment with existing backpack designs, using flexible battery panels as the power source for heating and rewarming. These devices are incorporated into the backpack, allowing it to actively provide heat to extremities and major arterial core areas in cases of mild or moderate hypothermia, thereby aiding recovery.
In addition, Li Hao-che, another student from NTUST’s Department of Industrial Design, has designed a “construction site safety helmet” that balances impact resistance and breathability for laborers, which has also been shortlisted for the Young Designers’ Exhibition.
Li Hao-che is a silver medalist in the International Skills Competition for carpentry and is known as a “carpentry expert.” As someone who frequently interacts with many people in the engineering field, he noticed that although construction sites are highly dangerous and wearing safety helmets is standard procedure, the helmets are often heavy and lack ventilation, causing some workers to avoid wearing them despite the risks.
After studying commercially available construction helmets, he found that they offered insufficient protection for vulnerable areas such as the sides of the head, forehead, and the central nervous system at the back of the skull. Therefore, he designed the “IMPACT SAFETY HELMET,” a construction site safety helmet made with composite plastic shells combined with special slow-rebound foam that can absorb 90% of impact force, providing better protection for the head and cervical spine. It also offers improved breathability for greater wearing comfort.
A total of 20 works from NTUST’s Department of Industrial Design have been shortlisted for the 2017 Young Designers’ Exhibition. This year, a total of 6,448 entries from 5,284 works across 64 universities nationwide competed, with NTUST securing 22 nominations, including 18 in product design, 2 in craft design, and 2 in spatial design. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 22.
The Department of Industrial Design at National Taipei University of Technology had a total of 20 works shortlisted for the 2017 "Young Designers' Exhibition." This year, a total of 64 universities and colleges nationwide submitted 5,284 entries, with NTUT securing 22 award nominations, including 18 in product design, 2 in craft design, and 2 in spatial design. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 22.