Press Release
Soyoung An Is Honored with the A' Design Award for Above Smart Treadmill in Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design
Soyoung An acknowledged for sporting goods, fitness and recreation equipment design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ Above Smart Treadmill by Soyoung An, designed for Above, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The result belongs to the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The A' Design Award Explained
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
About Above Smart Treadmill
Above is a smart treadmill designed for home fitness. Above combines a smart mirror with an artificial intelligence coach that adapts to different walking patterns and body shapes. Cameras and sensors measure body size, gait, weight, heart rate and body mass index. The coach uses the collected data to analyze gait and to suggest personal exercise programs. Foot-shaped lights on the track guide stride and speed. A side arm and a sliding toolbox support strength training with posture feedback in real time. Virtual routes and shared maps allow social workouts.
About Soyoung An
This is my very first time applying for the design award. Before, I thought that applying for a design award was a challenge and something very difficult. However, after I have uploaded this FLO project on Behance, many people appreciated my work. And finally, the project has been featured on the website. This result encouraged me to continue design work and gave me chance to step forward to this field.
Award Record
Soyoung An is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards were granted between the 2021 - 2022 and the 2024 - 2025 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design Award
The A' Sporting Goods Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good sports equipment designs by leading designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to sporting goods designers, fitness equipment designers, recreation equipment designers and industrial designers from all countries. Typical entries include basketballs, tennis rackets, yoga mats, running shoes, dumbbells and bicycles. The awarded sports equipment designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/sporting-goods
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/162881
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/162881
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!162881
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/315214
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://bit.ly/4eF8Bmd
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Above Smart Treadmill
- Function
- Smart Treadmill
- Category
- Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Sports
- Colors
- Silver, Lavender, Light Gray, Dark Gray and Rosy Brown
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Above
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Soyoung An
- Country
- Republic of Korea
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #162881
Credits
- Team
- Soyoung An (Solo)
- Image Credits
- #1 : Product designer Soyoung An, 2024 #2 : Product designer Soyoung An, 2024 #3 : Product designer Soyoung An, 2024 #4 : Product designer Soyoung An, 2024 #5 : Product designer Soyoung An, 2024 Video Credits : Product designer Soyoung An, 2024
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The treadmill integrates a smart mirror and AI coach, catering to diverse walking patterns and body shapes. It employs cameras and sensors to assess body size, gait, weight, heart rate, and BMI. The AI coach utilizes this data to conduct gait analyses and suggest personalized exercise programs. Users can design virtual running routes, accrue credits, and participate in social workouts. Additionally, it supports strength exercises with arm and toolbox aids, providing real-time posture feedback. The accompanying app offers challenges, tips, and community engagement features.
- Inspiration
- During a brief break from the gym workout, observations were made of treadmill users engaging in walking or running. Notably, each individual exhibited distinct movement patterns and varied body shapes. Some displayed improper posture or unusual gait possibly due to physical imbalances, which remained consistent throughout their exercise sessions. Research reveals that persistent exercise with such imbalances can worsen physical asymmetry over time.
- Research
- This project involved desk research, academic papers, and a market review. People have unique body shapes and distinctive gaits due to lifestyle, habits, and genetic or acquired factors. Gait characteristics are critical biometric data, even used in identifying criminals. However, not everyone walks or runs with correct posture. Modern lifestyles often lead to spinal deformities, inward-turning feet, and forward head posture. Incorrect posture during exercise perpetuates physical imbalances, affects foot shape, and hinders muscle development and weight loss.
- Challenge
- In the initial ideation phase, I considered more futuristic designs, such as a transparent front display for an immersive exercise experience. We also envisioned expandable sides for additional tools and a bench for a resting area. However, these focused more on aesthetics rather than solving current issues. Therefore, I prioritized understanding user pain points in walking and running experiences on treadmills. The proposed design remains conceptual, and while it accounts for current technological feasibility, production viability is uncertain. I anticipate discussions on cost and pricing in the production phase, despite the prototype's potential significance.
- Realization and Technology
- The ABOVE system is divided into three parts. The first includes a smart mirror and a workout toolbox. Cameras and sensors on the left detect expressions, emergencies, exercise satisfaction, body temperature, and posture. The second part is the smart track, which measures weight and uses pressure sensors to analyze gait. Foot-shaped lights guide the user to the correct stride and speed. AI analyzes this data along with motion capture from sensors and cameras. The third part is a handle with buttons for easy control, managed through AI coach conversations.
- Operation and Interaction
- Before using the ABOVE system, the AI coach gathers the user's biometric data. Users follow the guide on a smart mirror, standing on a sensor-lit track to measure weight, height, and BMI. The system then conducts a walking analysis to diagnose and correct gait issues, offering training for proper walking and personalized cardio and strength exercise plans for weight management. Users can discuss and customize their workout plans with the AI coach. Additionally, users can engage in virtual walking/running on a community-generated map, share exercise tips, and receive real-time feedback from the AI coach for strength exercises using the Arm and workout box.
- Project Duration and Location
- This project started in March 2024 and finished in June 2024 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Specifications
- The ABOVE system measures 1965mm x 824mm x 2070mm. The left side of the smart mirror features AI cameras and sensors that analyze motion, temperature, and facial expressions. The side arm aids in strength training. An automatic sliding toolbox on the left houses strength training parts, weight balls, bands, and a foot arch massaging roller. The curl band handles have pressure sensors for posture correction. Motion capture and AI cameras below the mirror analyze walking patterns. The handle includes an AI coach call button for interactive guidance.
- Keywords
- Smart Treadmill, Smart Mirror, AI Coach, Walking Pattern, Personalization, Workout, Socialization, AI
