2024

Design Awards Silver Winner - ArtCenter College of Design, Pratt Institute

Portal One

Entrant Company

ArtCenter College of Design, Pratt Institute

Category

Audio & Video Devices - Wired & Wireless Headphones

Client's Name

Country / Region:

United States

Portal One is beyond a pair of headphones; it is a unique device designed to express a “concentration” signal through a lighting display. By lighting up in distinctive visuals, Portal One serves as a non-intrusive communication tool, signalling to others the wearer's need for focus, thereby avoiding disturbance in the work and study environment.

Globally, wearing headphones has become a universal signal for "Do Not Disturb" and "Concentration," a non-verbal cue used by millions to communicate their need for focus and privacy.

Despite this widespread understanding, it’s common for people to communicate with each other while wearing headphones. Thus, the message often falls short of being clearly and effectively communicated, leading to confusion, and resulting interruptions in the context of open offices, studios and classrooms where conversations happen a lot. This gap between intention and perception highlights a nuanced challenge within open environments: the need for a clear signal.

Credits

ArtCenter College of Design
Zhenghao Huang
Pratt Institute
Weiqi Sun
More Silver Winners
2024
Design Awards Winner - Hangzhou Zhiyuan Research Institute Co., Ltd - Passive Lower Limb Exoskeleton

Entrant Company

Hangzhou Zhiyuan Research Institute Co., Ltd

Category

Wearable Technology - Exoskeletons

Country / Region

China

2024
Design Awards Winner - Jingdezhen Dawu Ceramics Limited Liability Company - Ideal Coffee Cup
16 Kai

Entrant Company

Jingdezhen Dawu Ceramics Limited Liability Company

Category

Furniture - Furniture Sets

Country / Region

China

2024
Design Awards Winner - Shu Wang - Musician Chair

Entrant Company

Shu Wang

Category

Furniture - Seating & Comfort Furniture

Country / Region

United States

2024
Design Awards Winner - LR Seoul - Younique Ring
AMOREPACIFIC

Entrant Company

LR Seoul

Category

Fashion & Lifestyle - Social Design

Country / Region

South Korea