Jia Wu, a PhD researcher in Creative Music Practice at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), has won a Red Dot Design Award in the Design Concept category for her concept design, the Breezophone.
Developed whilst working at the Changzhou Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology, China, Jia Wu’s design is “an assistive breath training instrument for elderly individuals” which aims to support those who experience lung capacity issues, dental issues and oral cavity problems, when learning to play or playing traditional wind instruments.
Jia Wu said: “The inspiration for the Breezophone came from my ongoing interest in breath-based musical interaction and my experience designing commercial wind instruments. I have always been fascinated by how breathing — something so natural and personal — can become a means of creative musical expression.”
Jia Wu hopes to produce a prototype from the concept design during her PhD, with support from supervisors Dr Tom Mudd and Dr Una McGlone.
Jia Wu said: “Working under the supervision of Tom and Una has been deeply inspiring. They both have a profound understanding of the experimental relationship between sound and technology, as well as the openness and inclusivity inherent in musical performance and education.”
Jia Wu shared what attracted her to the Edinburgh College of Art’s PhD in Creative Music Practice: “I chose to pursue my PhD in Edinburgh because the ECA programme provides an ideal environment to connect design-thinking with musical expression and technology. The programme’s openness to interdisciplinary practice allows me to develop my ideas in both artistic and practical directions, which fits perfectly with my long-term interest in breath-based musical interaction.”
Jia Wu continued: “My PhD research explores how breath can become a meaningful and expressive form of interaction in digital musical instruments. Focusing on older adults, the project investigates how multimodal feedback and inclusive design can support more accessible, embodied, and emotionally engaging musical experiences.”
The Red Dot Design Awards
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s largest design competitions, focusing on three disciplines - Product Design, Brands and Communication Design, and Design Concept.
The Red Dot Label has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after marks of quality for good design.
