[News from Institutions] Hong Kong Design Institute and Local Start-Up Project Kontemp Ltd Take Top Honours at Red Dot Awards for Smart Temperature-Controllable Modular Vest
Award-winning “Project Kontemp” is a wearable innovation that blends Traditional Chinese Medicine and smart tech to help users regulate body temperature in extreme climates

Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), in collaboration with local start-up Project Kontemp Ltd, today announced it has won the prestigious “Best of the Best” distinction in the 2025 Red Dot Design Award, one of the world’s most respected international competitions for product and concept design. The prestigious accolade recognises the creation of a temperature-controlled vest that combines smart technology with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles to offer a stylish and health-conscious solution to climate challenges. The jury highly commended the project for its outstanding design quality, innovation, and technical application.

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s most respected international design competitions, celebrating excellence in product innovation, aesthetics, and functionality. The “Best of the Best” distinction is reserved for the most groundbreaking entries across all categories.

Renowned for its strong industry connections and commitment to nurturing globally minded design talent, HKDI led the award-winning vest project through its Centre of Innovative Material and Technology (CIMT). The team oversaw material selection, tailoring, and fitting trials. Commercialisation was then handled by Project Kontemp Ltd, with engineering design and module integration supported by the Intelligent Manufacturing Institute of Hefei University of Technology, drawing on its expertise in artificial intelligence and robotics to bring the concept to life.

Fusing Traditional Chinese Medicine and Technology to Help Users Adapt to Climate Challenges

As global temperatures become more unpredictable, the temperature-controllable modular vest, otherwise known as “Project Kontemp”, offers a practical solution for everyday comfort. It combines advanced semiconductor technology with Traditional Chinese Medicine acupoint theory to deliver a wearable experience that is functional, health-conscious, and stylish.

Equipped with six temperature-control modules on the front and back, the vest allows real-time temperature adjustments via a control, stabilising within one minute. Its surface temperature ranges from 5°C to 45°C, catering to both cooling and heating needs. The vest is compatible with most of the 15W 10,000mAh power banks available on the market, providing approximately two hours of battery life.

Guided by Traditional Chinese Medicine wellness principles, the module placements are also designed to avoid cold invasion. Professor WU Sheng-bing from the Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine commented: “By regulating body temperature, the vest alleviates stress on the heart and lungs in high temperatures, dissipating ventricular heat and effectively reducing the risk of heatstroke.”

Balancing Fashion and Function: Pioneering a New Era of Smart Apparel

Beyond its technical innovation, the vest excels in its fashionable design. Crafted from waterproof and stain-resistant fabric for easy maintenance, the vest features ergonomic tailoring and is available in multiple sizes to suit diverse body types.

HKDI Higher Diploma in Fashion Design student LAM Chun-ni, Jenny incorporated the vest into her graduate showcase, blending denim aesthetics with functionality. Her proposal for a detachable module design has laid the groundwork for future product versatility. Jenny is currently pursuing a top-up Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design (Honours) offered by the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, while continuing to contribute to the development of “Project Kontemp”.

Commercialisation and Future Development Across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia

Developed over the course of a year, the “Project Kontemp” vest debuted at the Tokyo Outdoor Show earlier this year. The team is currently engaging with retailers in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia to explore market opportunities. Plans are underway to launch a lighter, more affordable version tailored for outdoor workers and sports enthusiasts, featuring fewer modules, washable materials, and a professional cut.

Future iterations will explore advanced cooling coatings and integrate additional TCM elements such as moxibustion—using heat from burning dried mugwort to stimulate circulation—enhancing both performance and wellness benefits.

HKDI Leading the Future of Innovative Design
Dr LI Wang-hei, Travis, Project Leader and Deputy Head of HKDI’s CIMT, said: “The success of ‘Project Kontemp’ demonstrates HKDI’s strength in design innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. By integrating TCM wisdom with modern technology, we’ve created smart apparel that is practical, stylish, and sustainable, offering a novel solution to climate challenges.”

PUN Chi-hang, Valen, Founder of Project Kontemp Ltd, added: “We are grateful for the professional support from HKDI and Hefei University of Technology. This vest is not only a design breakthrough but also a vision for the future of smart apparel. We look forward to bringing this product to global markets, allowing more people to experience its unique appeal.”

About Hong Kong Design Institute 
Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) is a member of VTC Group. HKDI was established in 2007 with the mission to be a leading provider of design education and lifelong learning, including architecture, interior and product design, communication design, digital media and fashion and image design. With a view to providing professional designers for the creative industries, it promotes the “think and do” approach and encourages interdisciplinary synergy in its broad range of design programmes that cultivate students’ cultural sensitivities and sense of sustainability. HKDI maintains a strong network 
with industry and provides its students with essential practical experience. Overseas exchanges are actively arranged for students to broaden their horizon and international perspective.
Website: https://hkdi.edu.hk/EN

About HKDI Centre of Innovative Material and Technology (CIMT)
HKDI CIMT is a comprehensive material lab for all design disciplines. It aims to inspire the creativity of students and facilitate material innovation, multidisciplinary studies and collaborations. Housing over 2,000 kinds of cross-disciplinary classical, sustainable and innovative materials sourced locally and globally, it offers students first-hand experience of a wide range of cutting-edge materials, unconventional multi-material applications, and innovative end-products from different design industries.

About Project Kontemp Limited
Project Kontemp Limited was established with a singular focus: to significantly improve human lives under extreme climate conditions by creating and developing a unique brand and product series. Our core strength lies in our comprehensive strategy of integrating vital resources and specialized knowledge from private companies, educational sectors, and production factories across both Hong Kong and China. By successfully integrating innovation, rigorous development, and robust sales and marketing plans, we are building a truly sustainable business model.

About Intelligent Manufacturing Institute, Hefei University of Technology
The Intelligent Manufacturing Institute (IMI) of Hefei University of Technology (HFUT) is a high-level, new-type research and development institution established in 2014 and co-founded by the Hefei Municipal Government and HFUT, with strong support from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Anhui Provincial Government. Its core mission is to drive technological achievement commercialization, cultivate high-tech enterprises, and develop talent through deep industry-education integration, ultimately striving to be a highly influential base for scientific innovation, commercialization, and industrial talent development. The IMI has earned significant formal recognition for its strategic role in regional innovation, including designation as a Provincial-level Pilot Unit for Comprehensive Innovation Reform (2016), selection into the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center (2017), and being upgraded to a High-Level New-type R&D Institution in 2023. Furthermore, it has been approved as a key platform for talent cultivation by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and functions as a Provincial-level University Science Park and Technology Business Incubator. 

The Institute operates under a comprehensive strategic framework, summarized by the "1758" construction blueprint, which centers on the main line of "enhancing the competitive advantage of the intelligent manufacturing industry" across seven key technological fields, including high-end intelligent equipment, new materials, and new energy systems. To support this, the IMI has established five centers (including Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Service and Innovation & Entrepreneurship) that execute eight core functions, such as key technology R&D, quality assessment, and industry development think tank services. To date, the IMI has successfully incubated 204 high-tech enterprises (including 46 National High-Tech Enterprises), provided technical support to over 700 enterprises, and cultivated 5,000 Master's degree students.

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