Press Release
Crabee Kid's Swimming Learning Aids by Chih-Yun Li Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
Chih-Yun Li honored for toys, games and hobby products design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ Crabee Kid's Swimming Learning Aids by Chih-Yun Li, designed for Li Chih-Yun, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided 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.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
About Crabee Kid's Swimming Learning Aids
Crabee is a learning flotation device for children aged 3 to 9. Crabee is intended to reduce fear of water through interactive play. The modular shell is made of water-resistant foam and includes five rings of different diameters, so the conical body can be adjusted to the size of each child. Children can throw, catch and place the rings on the body. Two periscopes allow a view of the underwater world from the surface. Floating balls add a treasure hunt game. Children of different swimming abilities can play together.
About Chih-Yun Li
Whirl is a modular device that utilizes wind and solar energy. It can be assembled to a wall or window and generates electricity from wind-induced oscillations and solar panels.Whirl provides home, backup or grid power with quiet operation and reduced environmental impact. It reduces costs and carbon footprint, saving 80% of maintenance costs, 51% of operating costs and 53% of manufacturing costs.
Award Record
This recognition makes Chih-Yun Li a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design Award
The A' Toy Design Award is an international toy design competition recognizing good toy designs by best toy designers, manufacturers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to toy designers, game studios, industrial designers and hobby product manufacturers from all countries. Typical entries include dolls, action figures, board games, puzzles, plush toys and educational toys. The awarded toy designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/toy
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/163061
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/163061
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!163061
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/356926
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Crabee Kid's Swimming Learning Aids
- Function
- Kid's Swimming Learning Aids
- Category
- Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Kids
- Colors
- Dark Gray, Light Slate Gray, Gray, Lavender and Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Li Chih-Yun
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Chih-Yun Li
- Country
- Taiwan (China)
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #163061
Credits
- Team
- Li Chih-Yun, Lin Yu-He, Wu Yi-Chen, Chen Zih-Jin, Chuang Chu-An and Li Kai-Chu
- Image Credits
- Creator Li Chih-Yun, 2024
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Crabee is a learning flotation device designed for children aged 3 to 9, to reduce their fear of water through interactive play. Its modular shell design lets children switch between different play modes, enhancing their water adaptability while having fun. Additionally, accessories such as periscopes and floating balls are included, allowing children of various swimming abilities to engage together. This helps prepare them for future swimming lessons and reduces the risk of drowning.
- Inspiration
- According to the world health organization , approximately 370,000 people die from drowning each year globally, with 60% of these deaths occurring in children under the age of 18. Drowning is also a leading cause of accidental death in children aged 1 to 4. We interviewed a primary school swimming instructor, who indicated that individuals who fear water are at a higher risk of drowning. Therefore, reducing children's fear of water through appropriate education is crucial for ensuring their safety in aquatic environments.
- Research
- We collect secondary data to analyze the shortcomings of swimming aids available in the market and employ qualitative research methods to interview parents. This helps us understand their educational approaches and the timing and circumstances under which children learn to become comfortable with water. Ultimately, we integrate child development benchmarks to provide tailored play recommendations for users of different ages, incorporating short stories to enhance children's learning motivation.
- Challenge
- This project initially used pvc and pp to manufacture the products to reduce storage space. However, these materials are prone to rupture, posing safety risks, and users are unwilling to inflate the products before each use. Additionally, discussions with manufacturers revealed that pvc and pp face challenges in buoyancy calculations and cannot produce intricate designs. After careful consideration, we decided to switch to eva materials to extend the product's lifespan and simplify production.
- Realization and Technology
- 1. The main body and five rings are made from eva foam, offering water resistance, high chemical stability, and durability, produced using foam molding technology, followed by cooling and cutting processes. 2. Periscope housing constructed from pp plastic using injection molding technology, cooled, polished, and surface-treated. 3. Periscope lenses are made from pc plastic using injection molding technology. After cooling, the lenses are polished and coated to achieve optimal optical clarity and durability.
- Operation and Interaction
- First the crabee’s body (a conical tube) can be adjusted according to the child's body size, allowing for the assembly of different sizes that can be held and floated on the water. Second, children can throw, catch, and place multiple rings onto the crabee, helping it find its shell. Third, children who are not yet able to hold their breath can use crabee's eyes (periscopes) to explore the underwater world while staying at the water's surface. Finally, children can use floating and sinking gems (floating balls) to play a treasure hunt game.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in June 2023 and completed the samples in February 2024. Expert testing is scheduled for August with plans to launch in mid-2025.
- Specifications
- 1. All five rings are assembled: the dimensions are 44 cm in height, 38 cm in length, and 36 cm in width. With three rings assembled, the height is 34 cm. 2. The diameters of the five rings: from largest to smallest, are 36 cm, 33 cm, 30 cm, 26 cm, and 21 cm. 3. The product uses eva foam, mirrors, and polycarbonate.
- Keywords
- Flotation device, Children, Learning
