University–Industry Collaboration Earns International Recognition Again! WKU Interdisciplinary Project Wins the Red Dot Award: Design Concept

Recently, a foldable eyewear case, FOLDO, jointly developed by Assistant Professor Maurizio Vrenna (Mao Li) and Lecturer Jiang Yuanbo from WKU’s College of Architecture and Design, Chen Wangyu, Wu Jiawei, and He Ziyu, students majoring in Industrial Design, and Lu Yan, Lyu Bingwei, and Xu Jiahong, students majoring in Graphic Design, has been awarded the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026.

The project was developed through a collaboration between Wenzhou-Kean University and Wenzhou Lovedoor Group Co., Ltd. This marks another international recognition for WKU’s faculty and students following the 2026 iF Design Award received by Horizon Lamp. It also represents another achievement in the University’s efforts to deepen university–industry collaboration and advance sustainable design practice.

The Red Dot Design Award was established in 1955 and comprises three major competition areas: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept. The Red Dot Award: Design Concept, received by FOLDO, was established in 2005 and focuses on design concepts, prototypes, and proposals with future development potential.

From “Bulky” to “Lightweight”: Rethinking the Eyewear Case

FOLDO uses a compact tubular structure and felt components made from recycled fishing nets to address the bulkiness and limited portability of traditional eyewear cases.

The team initially explored a wide range of eyewear case forms, examining the balance between storage space, protection, material use, and portability. One important source of inspiration came from the everyday structure of ventilation and exhaust ducts. Their ability to expand, contract, and unfold provided the team with a new direction for exploring a transformable structure suitable for an eyewear case.

Another distinctive feature of the project was the interdisciplinary collaboration between Industrial Design and Graphic Design students.Industrial Design students were primarily responsible for concept development, form and structural exploration, model making, and 3D modelling. Graphic Design students focused on the project’s branding and visual identity, promotional booklet, presentation slides, video, and communication of the design concept. The intersection of these different viewpoints allowed FOLDO to gradually evolve into a comprehensive design project encompassing product design, materials, branding, and visual communication.

The team also presented its early proposals to the company for further discussion. Through continuous exchange and collaboration, the team ultimately identified “folding” as the core design direction.

Visiting the Company: Understanding Design in a Real-World Context

During the development process, the team visited Wenzhou Lovedoor Group Co., Ltd. for an exchange of ideas and a project presentation. Through the company visit, students gained a deeper understanding of the production processes for eyewear and related products, from material selection, structural design, and forming to subsequent processing and assembly. This gave them a more direct understanding of the material and manufacturing considerations involved in turning a design concept into a real product.

Designs that had originally existed mainly as drawings and models had to be reconsidered within a real industrial context: Is the material suitable? Can the structure actually be realised? Are the dimensions appropriate? Does the final product meet real-world requirements for use and manufacturing? Feedback from the company further helped the team refine and improve the project.

This collaboration combines classroom learning, industry practice, and international design competitions. Through real-world industry projects, students gain a deeper understanding of the relationships among materials, manufacturing, users, and markets. Interdisciplinary collaboration further strengthens their overall design capabilities.