Image courtesy of Rimowa.
In its second rendition, the Rimowa Design Prize has selected seven finalists to celebrate their work around the theme of “mobility”. The Rimowa luxury luggage brand has pioneered technological and design innovations since its foundation in the late 19th century, and today prides itself on promoting resiliency and sustainability in design infrastructure. Their contest is centered around the brand’s values of “innovation, inclusivity, and global change”, and is also imagined as a tribute to Germany’s long history of design changemaking. Highlighting young inventors, the contest matches 21 semi-finalists with seven jury members who will also act as their mentors for the duration of their projects. After two months of planning, seven finalists are selected to continue their projects in a period with more hands-on learning.
Among these seven, our interviewee Janne Kreimer was selected as first place for the project “Ro” that she developed with mentor Andreas Murkudis. Ro is an accessibility aid that targets the parasympathetic nervous system: a form-fitting vest installed with inflatable nodes placed along acupressure points and meridians. The wearer can self-activate the vest and control the intensity of the pressure without any change to the apparel’s outside appearance, reducing social anxiety and increasing accessibility to places that might cause stress. In our interview, Janne describes the process of creating Ro, and the lessons that she has learned so far as a design student at Hochschule Anhalt Fachbereich Design.
Image courtesy of Rimowa.
SLEEK: What was the inspiration behind Ro? Was there a personal connection to the topic of anxiety, or was it more of just a logic puzzle to solve an issue?
Janne Kreimer: The idea originated from my personal experiences with the feeling of being restricted in my mobility and ability to develop my potential due to fear and insecurity. The fundamental need to have something physical to hold on to or even a firm embrace in such situations led me to develop Ro. After the basic idea, it developed into a complex project: a logic puzzle in which both the medical and fashion components had to be brought together.
S: How did you get started after you came up with the idea? What do your first steps look like when you are executing such a complex project?
JK: The project is indeed very complex. I realized that as I went deeper into the readings and conversations with my mentor. Sometimes I felt it was presumptuous to translate such complex issues into a design piece, as I am not an expert in this field. But I believe that this exact process of combining science and design is the way forward.
Ro had to be implemented in a user-friendly and understandable way. So I started by spending weeks researching and experimenting. Sketching, discarding initial ideas and implementations, discussing, and researching further. For me, a design process is never straightforward because you always need to adjust based on new findings.
S: Was any one part of the process especially challenging?
JK: At times, I found myself questioning if I had taken on too much. Due to the aforementioned complexity of the project, ‘Ro’ also offers plenty of room for further optimization and expansion. In the end, I had to rely on others, delegate tasks and coordinate the project’s different aspects. I felt like a translator, incorporating expertise from different fields into a visual framework and integrating everything into one cohesive design piece. I think that was the most challenging part: to delve into each of the different areas, but in such a way that the others are not neglected. Technology, garment pattern, soft robotics and scientific validation – everything had to evolve at the same time.
S: What are some other projects from your design studies, and did any of them work on the same topic of accessibility/anxiety management?
JK: At our university in Dessau, you can study Integrated Design, which is a fantastic opportunity to gain an understanding of almost all areas of design. My previous projects have mainly focused on individual areas of 2D, 3D and 4D design. This project, however, integrates all of these areas and allowed me to use and bring together my experiences from previous semesters. It makes me very proud to represent my degree program in this way. It was my first work on the topic of anxiety management.
Image courtesy of Rimowa.
S: Where did your interest in Chinese medicine come from, and has it impacted any of your other work?
JK: This is the first project in which I have integrated methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I find it particularly fascinating to approach projects with new perspectives and combine different disciplines. It’s about pooling knowledge and using it to develop effective products.
In projects like mine, where different areas work together, communication alone is not enough; mutual understanding and open-mindedness are essential. I will keep this in mind for future projects.
S: You also worked with designer Andreas Murkudis, who is known for his archive design, fashion, and art curatorial work. What role did fashion and aesthetics play in your project for Rimowa?
JK: Aesthetics always play a major role in design, and this was certainly the case when creating the first ’Ro’ prototype. This product was intended to be not only functional and practical, but also a pleasure to wear in everyday life without appearing like a medical device. Durability and personal identification were therefore key considerations for ‘Ro’ from the very beginning. However, aesthetics are subjective and can therefore be perceived very differently. I find it fascinating how simplicity lends to broad appeal and individual use. During our collaboration, Andreas Murkudis emphasized to me the importance of simple aesthetics. It was a great honor and enriching for the project to work with such an experienced and esteemed figure of the design world as Andreas Murkudis.
S: Do you usually work better with a bigger group, a smaller team, or alone?
JK: I believe that every situation presents its own advantages at different stages of a project. I had the idea for Ro last semester during a course at my university. From the beginning, I set myself the goal of embracing the challenge and being brave by planning a project on my own for the first time.
That was an excellent way to evaluate yourself and push your boundaries in a supportive environment like university. However, it is undeniable that truly great achievements are only possible when several people with different perspectives work together. I am fortunate to collaborate with such great, talented individuals on this project, without whom I would not have been able to bring the Ro project to its current state. So once again, a big thank you to everyone involved. Having an idea is not everything. That’s why I would say that the best path is always the one you walk together with others.
S: What are you planning to do with your prize money, are you going to move forward with the Ro project?
JK: Absolutely! It is a matter close to my heart to drive the development of “Ro” forward and make the product accessible to people who need it. Taking part in the Rimowa Design Prize was an exciting milestone, but it is only the beginning of this project. I firmly believe in the potential of “Ro” and its potential to make a positive difference in many people’s lives. I look forward to refining the concept, exploring new avenues and continuing to work on it with great people. After all, I could use the vest myself and can’t wait to try it out for myself.