2018 German iF Design Award: Mindray, BGI, and Neusoft Compete Against GPS—Who Emerged as the Winner?

For 65 years, the German iF Design Award has become a globally recognized design trademark, standing alongside the American IDEA Award and the German Red Dot Award as one of the three major international design awards.

In 2018, the iF Design Award attracted 2,955 participants from 54 countries, who submitted a total of 6,402 entries. Following rigorous evaluation by 63 experts from 16 countries, the 2018 iF Design Award ceremony was recently held with great fanfare at BMW Welt in Munich, Germany.

Ultimately, 1,218 entries were awarded the “2018 iF Design Award,” spanning multiple categories including Product Design, Communication Design, Packaging Design, Health & Medical, Service Design/User Experience, Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Professional Concept. Additionally, 75 outstanding works received the “2018 iF Gold Award” for their unique design.

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has observed that this year also saw numerous entries in the healthcare and medical field, with major medical device companies such as GE, Siemens, Philips, BGI, Mindray, Neusoft, Yuwell, and Omron all having products honored. Among them, Philips Healthcare emerged as the biggest winner this year; of the 84 award-winning healthcare and medical products we tallied, 11 were from Philips Healthcare.

Geographically, China achieved significant success this year, with 32 products winning awards, surpassing Germany and the United States to rank first. In terms of product categories, monitoring devices, particularly those for intensive care, were the most numerous, while sleep and beauty products were also highly favored by the judges.

▲ The products highlighted in yellow are Gold Award winners.

1. DreamWear Full Face CPAP Mask

Manufacturer: Philips Healthcare

This is the world’s first full-face continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask that utilizes airflow through a frame and headgear. This design reduces the mask’s footprint on the front of the face, allowing users to sleep in various positions and move freely. With more of the face exposed, the mask feels less like a medical device. Its minimalist design is exceptionally compact and simple. The under-nose cradle cushion delivers the same comfort and performance as a full-face nasal cushion, but in a smaller size. The soft, flexible silicone frame and cushions minimize irritation, making this redesigned mask more comfortable and easier to use than its predecessor.

2. High-Risk Pregnancy Prenatal Toolkit

Manufacturer: Philips Healthcare

This product is designed to help laypersons and professional healthcare providers identify and interpret signs of high-risk pregnancy in women living in vulnerable settings. The kit includes a set of durable, tear-resistant reference cards that serve as teaching aids, along with a battery-free fetal stethoscope (fetoscope) that enables healthcare workers and expectant mothers to listen to the baby’s heartbeat, thereby creating a unique experience within healthcare facilities. Philips Design, the International Red Cross, and the Philips Foundation have joined forces to support healthcare professionals in this field in delivering better care to pregnant women with complications.

3. Spaceline EX Dental Treatment Unit

Manufacturer: Morita, Japan

Drawing on over 50 years of proven ergonomic concepts, the Spaceline EX inherits the spirit of the world’s first horizontal-position treatment chair pioneered by Dr. Daryl Beach. It provides healthcare professionals with a relaxed working environment, offering easy access to instruments mounted on the backrest and a fully adjustable tray that moves effortlessly during intraoral and extraoral procedures while supporting natural posture. For patients, both the one-piece seat and the foldable leg rest design provide stable and comfortable support. The touch control panel, featuring an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) and an external display, simplifies operation and facilitates clearer communication between patients and dentists.

4. Water-Air-Suction Dedicated ENT Equipment

Manufacturer: Peoux GmbH, Germany

The Peoux product line is used by otolaryngologists for most standard surgical procedures. Although the technical structures of the three handle variants differ, the product line maintains a consistent aesthetic. Each product meets all hygiene requirements for wipe disinfection and autoclave sterilization. The ergonomic shape and high-quality materials (stainless steel and PPSU) highlight its highly aesthetic design.

Judges' Comments: This ENT device features an exquisite blend of materials and highly ergonomic, human-centered design, helping patients overcome their fears. Its clean, soft, and structured surfaces transform the physician’s clinic into a more welcoming and patient-friendly environment.

1. BeneVision N Series Patient Monitor

Manufacturer: Mindray Medical

BeneVision Patient Monitor enables continuous monitoring of patient status anytime, anywhere. By streamlining workflows and leveraging Mindray Clinical Assistant Applications (CAAs), it empowers healthcare professionals to observe patients at any time. Featuring state-of-the-art display technology and multi-touch operation, the BeneVision reduces operation time and helps users rapidly assess patient parameters. The newly developed, powerful CAAs provide efficient decision support in time-critical situations, with each CAA addressing significant clinical challenges faced by specific departments.

2. BGISEQ-50 Gene Sequencer

Manufacturer: BGI Genomics

The BGISEQ-50 employs advanced combinatorial probe-anchor synthesis (cPAS) technology and improved DNA nanoball (DNB) core sequencing technology. It performs polymerization of DNA molecular anchors and fluorescent probes on DNA nanoballs, captures optical signals using a high-resolution imaging system, and ultimately obtains the sequence information of the target DNA through digital processing of these optical signals.

The BGISEQ-50 utilizes high-precision components and features an integrated, independent sample-loading reagent tray and a fully automated reagent probe piercing system. Its streamlined design automatically integrates multiple functions, including sample loading, sequencing, and analysis. Compact and easy to install, it is not only well-suited for basic sequencing applications in clinical and research settings but also offers broad applicability. By overcoming spatial constraints, it ensures reliable operation even in low-pressure environments at high altitudes.

3. Magnetic Navigation System for Cardiac Intervention

Manufacturer: Lepu Medical

Cardiac Interventional Magnetic Navigation System is a large-scale medical device developed using the most advanced technologies currently available in the medical field. Magnetic navigation technology is a remote manipulation technique guided by an external magnetic field. Compared with manual operation, it can completely eliminate serious surgical complications such as cardiac perforation, prevent arbitrary catheter manipulation, and enable remote operation under X-ray fluoroscopy. Furthermore, computer-controlled operation enhances work efficiency, improves physician safety, and reduces the likelihood of human error. Due to its efficacy and reliability, remote magnetic navigation technology is particularly well-suited for treating complex arrhythmias.

4. Libertas™ Wearable Injector

Manufacturer: BD Medical

BD Libertas™ is a wearable injector capable of subcutaneously delivering large-volume, high-viscosity medications. It was developed for the long-term administration of biologic drugs for various chronic conditions that cannot be treated using autoinjectors. The design prioritizes safety, convenience, and usability while delivering high performance and manufacturing efficiency. BD Libertas™ is an exciting new device developed based on pharmaceutical companies’ needs, user insights, and technical robustness, representing a significant step forward in the safe and convenient delivery of biologics.

5. Hipee-S2 Smart Urine Analyzer

Manufacturer: Tianjin Guoshi Technology Co., Ltd.

Hipee is a smart device for urine analysis. It can connect to mobile phones via Wi-Fi to analyze users' health status, provide dietary and fitness recommendations, and offer comprehensive health management services. Regular urinalysis is a simple and effective model for health monitoring and diagnosis, widely used in clinical settings for disease diagnosis. Hipee is ten times smaller than traditional urine analyzers, enabling at-home urine testing and helping users manage their household health more easily.

6. Nanochip Non-Invasive Microneedles

Manufacturer: Suzhou Natong Bio-Nanotechnology Co., Ltd.

Most people dislike injections, yet many are willing to endure multiple needle pricks to eliminate wrinkles. This nanochip helps reduce wrinkles without causing the pain associated with needle punctures. The tips of the nanoneedles have a diameter of less than 80 nm, making them one-thousandth the thickness of a human hair. Furthermore, they overcome the barrier of the skin structure without contacting blood vessels in the dermis, allowing nanoneedles to deliver drugs or skincare products into the skin painlessly. This marks the first time in over 160 years since the invention of the hypodermic needle that a new product has enabled the non-invasive delivery of macromolecules to the epidermis.

1. DREAM RING Menstrual Ring

Manufacturer: Havas Korea X IDEAfree

African women face gender bias and discrimination on a daily basis. Addressing this issue requires greater female participation in formal education. The lack of access to affordable and hygienic feminine hygiene products is one of the primary reasons many African girls drop out of school. A single sanitary pad can cost a day’s wages, forcing women to resort to using newspapers, rags, cloth, or even soil during their menstrual periods. DREAM RING is an affordable and eco-friendly feminine hygiene product made from silicone rings and sugarcane-derived ethylene. The reusable silicone ring and disposable sugarcane-based ethylene component are key factors that make DREAM RING both economical and safe.

2. LEOMO TYPE-R Wearable Motion Analyzer

Manufacturer: LEOMO, Inc.

To date, motion analysis has typically required fixed laboratory equipment. This product breaks that limitation, enabling athletes to analyze their movements anywhere in daily life. It is also the world’s first modular wearable device. Users can select the battery, display size, and mounting method, allowing the device to adapt to a variety of sports. Launched alongside the hardware is a cycling motion analysis app, which can be updated via FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air). In addition, the product comes with PC software and a smartphone app, through which users can receive real-time motion analysis and professional guidance via either in-person or remote setup.

1. Lenovo SmartVest Intelligent ECG Garment

Manufacturer: Lenovo

SmartVest is the world’s first 12-lead ECG smart garment, featuring 360-degree cardiac scanning and 24-hour continuous monitoring. Capable of predicting cardiac risks up to 8 hours in advance, this vest can save lives. It incorporates ten soft textile electrodes, ensuring all-day comfort. Additionally, the accompanying mobile app allows patients to view real-time health information, while synchronizing data to the cloud to support remote diagnosis by physicians.

2. Dreamlight Smart Eye Mask

Manufacturer: Zhejiang Silk Road Sleep Technology Co., Ltd.

Dreamlight is larger than conventional eye masks, with a front profile resembling VR glasses. It uses light to guide users through deep breathing exercises synchronized with the frequency of light intensity changes, helping to relax the mind and reduce stress, thereby optimizing deep sleep or alleviating jet lag. Sound is also crucial for quality sleep; Dreamlight’s built-in hypnotic soundscapes help users fall asleep faster. Additionally, Dreamlight can monitor users’ vital signs and activity levels, providing personalized recommendations to help them achieve optimal rest.

3. Bemaner Fertility Monitor (Semen Analyzer)

Manufacturer: Shenzhen Chuanghuai Medical Technology Co., Ltd.

Many men feel embarrassed about undergoing pre-conception semen quality testing in hospitals. The Bemaner Smart Semen Analyzer uses a mobile app to replace traditional testing equipment. It is highly portable and easy to use, allowing users to collect and test semen samples at home. With its compact size, sleek design, and subtle color palette, this product is ideally suited for couples trying to conceive.

4. bruXane Personal Oral Care Device

Manufacturer: bruXane GmbH

BruXane combines a pressure-extruded splint with a biofeedback system to mitigate the effects of bruxism. When the device is in use, built-in sensors trigger a vibration motor in response to bruxism events, thereby significantly improving or eliminating common symptoms such as dental pain. BruXane is customized for each patient. The outer case protects BruXane when not in use and also serves as a charger and data transmitter.

5. CardiNova Wearable ECG Monitor

Manufacturer: Makalot Industrial Co., Ltd.

CardiNova is the first dynamic ECG garment, enabling physicians to detect critical waveforms (such as AFib) at an early stage, thereby minimizing the risk of invasive procedures for patients. The design also helps protect the wearer’s privacy while ensuring absolute flexibility. It utilizes biocompatible, breathable, and highly elastic materials to guarantee long-term wearing comfort. By monitoring ECG waveforms in real time and connecting to the medical cloud, CardiNova minimizes healthcare costs while maximizing the efficiency of healthcare delivery.