As an acclaimed industrial designer, Chi-Hao Chiang has continued to break new ground with transformative projects that bridge technology, community interaction, and human experience. Known for his visionary approach, Chiang has received numerous prestigious awards for his groundbreaking work, including the International Architecture & Design Awards, DNA Paris Design Awards, and Core 77 Design Awards. His original contributions span architectural installations that harmonize with the natural environment, inclusive gaming devices fostering connection, and cutting-edge wearable technologies reshaping athletic performance and health metrics. Through his original work with projects like Karst, Tandem, the Nextiles Motion Arm Sleeve, and the Nextiles Fabric Force Plate, Chiang is shaping a new era in industrial design.
Karst: Redefining environmental architecture and community interaction
Chiang’s Karst project, a modular water-filtration staircase, demonstrates his commitment to sustainable design and community-focused architecture. Designed for Governors Island in New York, Karst addresses both environmental concerns and community engagement, blending natural processes with human-centered spaces. The staircase operates as a water-filtering system that uses crushed oyster shells—a component inspired by the Billion Oyster Project—to reduce ocean acidification. As rainwater trickles through each step, the oyster shells react with acidic water, acting as a natural antacid, neutralizing the acidity and eventually returning filtered water to the harbor.
Karst also invites users to engage directly with the process of water filtration, creating an immersive experience that educates the public on ecological interconnectivity. This modular design can be adapted to other coastal regions, promoting a scalable model of ecological architecture that bridges human and natural interactions. Recognized widely in the design community, Karst has won notable awards, including the International Architecture & Design Awards 2023 (Gold) and DNA Paris Design Awards 2023 (Honorable Mention), attesting to its impact in reimagining how architecture can integrate seamlessly with nature.
Tandem: Fostering connection and inclusivity in gaming
Chiang’s Tandem project, his Master’s thesis at Pratt Institute, exemplifies his pursuit of inclusive design. Tandem rethinks conventional gaming controllers to bridge the gap between different generations and skill levels, enabling a collaborative gaming experience. Unlike typical game controllers that may pose a barrier for unskilled or casual gamers, Tandem separates functions into “Motion” and “Action” categories and introduces intuitive controls, such as thigh-based movements. This design allows two players to act as one, sharing control of the game, which fosters a collaborative and interactive experience that is both accessible and engaging.
The innovation within Tandem has resonated across the industry, earning it multiple accolades, such as the Core 77 Design Awards 2022 Student Notable Consumer Technology Award and the 2022 MUSE Design Awards (Platinum). Chi-Hao’s thesis advisor described him as “one of the most hardworking students” whose research, incorporating historical analysis and both quantitative and qualitative data, resulted in a device that connects people across generations and skill levels in a shared, meaningful way. Tandem not only showcases Chiang’s commitment to inclusive design but also underscores his understanding of how products can cultivate relationships through user-centered experiences.
The Nextiles Motion Arm Sleeve: Revolutionizing biomechanical wearables
Chiang’s groundbreaking design for the Nextiles Motion Arm Sleeve exemplifies his ability to merge traditional sewing craftsmanship with advanced biomechanical and biopotential sensing technology. By embedding fabric-based sensors directly into the sleeve, Chiang revitalizes the age-old art of sewing to serve modern athletic performance needs. This sleeve, used by over 1,000 athletes—including MLB players and Team USA Paralympian Brian Seaman—represents a breakthrough in sports monitoring. It transforms a familiar textile medium into a sophisticated tool that captures real-time data on metrics such as torque, stroke count, and force application. Athletes can seamlessly track their data through an app, gaining insights that were once limited to specialized lab environments.
The Nextiles Motion Arm Sleeve has received significant media attention, with features in BBC and other prominent publications, highlighting its innovative approach to adaptive sports. With clients such as Connected Performance and Top Tier Baseball, the sleeve empowers athletes and coaches with actionable insights, facilitating safer and more effective training programs. As described by Brian Seaman, “This is the only sleeve in the world that has the technology wheelchair racers can use to collect real-time cadence data.” The Motion Arm Sleeve demonstrates Chiang’s capacity to advance human performance technology, making previously complex biomechanical data accessible and practical for everyday use.
The Nextiles Fabric Force Plate: Portable innovation for human performance metrics
Another testament to Chiang’s inventive approach to his design work is the Nextiles Fabric Force Plate, a groundbreaking lightweight alternative to traditional force plates. At only 1/20th the weight of standard models, the Nextiles Fabric Force Plate provides a portable, cost-effective solution for tracking jump height, reactive strength index (RSI), and symmetry. Its flexibility and ease of use have made it popular with high-profile clients, including the U.S. Air Force and the NBA, as well as private training facilities such as Backyard Bullpens. By capturing over 60,000 datasets, the Fabric Force Plate has proven itself invaluable for tracking athletic performance and assessing progress over time.
In a collaborative validation study with Sherpa6, the Fabric Force Plate was found to deliver reliable measurements consistent with industry benchmarks. Though slightly lower in jump height readings compared to some competitors, its accuracy on varied surfaces and portability make it ideal for in-field applications, especially in military environments. Client testimonials from organizations such as the NBA and Backyard Bullpens emphasize the product’s impact on athlete training, with users noting its precision and ability to enhance real-time feedback for optimizing performance.
Landreth, R. (2023, December 28). Experimentation Introducing Nextiles Force Plates, A Comparison Against Known Standards.
The role of Nextile wearables
Through these original contributions, Chi-Hao Chiang has redefined how industrial design intersects with human performance, environmental sustainability, and community connection. His works—whether fostering connection through gaming with Tandem, enhancing ecological awareness with Karst, or pushing the boundaries of performance technology with the Nextiles wearables—demonstrate a visionary approach that aligns with evolving societal needs. With these achievements and recognitions, Chiang’s extraordinary contributions to the field of industrial design not only enrich the industry but also provide a foundation for future innovations in adaptive design, wearable technology, and sustainable architecture. His work exemplifies how thoughtful design can bridge the gap between technology, the environment, and human experience, shaping a future that is inclusive, interactive, and impactful.
Featured image credit: Newlab
