In the recently announced list, three design projects from Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) have been decorated with iF Design Award 2025 in Germany. The winning entries include “SHIFT_Circular Furniture for Low Carbon Library” and “Cyber-X” — two projects led by Prof. Shu Xingchuan, Director of the Department of Arts at the School of Architecture — along with the project “Comfort Cave-Hospitalized Cat Hiding Box” designed by Prof. Zhang Li’s team from the Department of Industrial Design at the School of Design. Notably, this marks Prof. Zhang’s second consecutive iF Award win following her 2024 achievement.

The SHIFT project, led by Prof. Shu and Industrial Designer Shi Xiaoxi’s team, in collaboration with Tsinghua University, MFSM Research Center, and SUNTOP Group, took four years to transform discarded industrial shelves into modular furniture for low-carbon libraries. This design not only enables resource recycling but also enhances the artistic appeal of public spaces.

The Cyber-X series represents another innovative breakthrough by Prof. Shu’s team, integrating 4D printing technology with healthcare applications. This series of medical assistive devices demonstrates how functional design can harmonize technological advancement with aesthetic considerations, establishing new paradigms for cross-disciplinary innovation.

Comfort Cave, designed by Prof. Zhang’s team, provides hospitalized cats with a private space to hide in. When the cats are discharged from hospital, it can be given to the owner or donated to a shelter. This design helps cats feel safe and comforted during hospitalization, promoting emotional stability and aiding in the recovery process, while also enhancing the quality of pet medical services. In addition to offering emotional support for both cats and their owners, the design features environmentally friendly biodegradable hemp pulp molding, providing a sustainable solution to the environmental burden and resource consumption issues.