1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.
Studio O&E was established in 2024 by a team of emerging designers from diverse backgrounds. Our mission is to enhance cross-disciplinary communication across fields such as human-computer interaction, industrial design, furniture design, and more. We strive to create a platform where visionary designers can exchange ideas and collaborate effectively.
2What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?
As a group of designers specialising in human-computer interaction, industrial design, and furniture design, our decision to pursue this path was driven by a collective passion for creating solutions that seamlessly blend functionality and aesthetic appeal. Each of us was drawn to design by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people's lives through thoughtful and user-centered solutions. We are motivated by the challenge of problem-solving and inspired by the potential to shape the future through our creativity and expertise in our respective fields.
3Tell us more about your agency/company, job profile, and what you do.
Our studio operates as a nonprofit platform that fosters creativity and collaboration among talented individuals. We are dedicated to providing a space where designers from various disciplines can exchange ideas, find inspiration, and ignite creative sparks. Additionally, we actively promote design competitions and showcase opportunities, enabling our designers to gain visibility and share their innovative solutions with the world. By facilitating these interactions and opportunities, we aim to support the growth and recognition of emerging talent in the design community.
4What does “design” mean to you?
“Design" means creating solutions that are both functional and beautiful, solving problems in innovative ways to improve how people interact with the world. It's about understanding people's needs and using creativity to make things better.
5What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
Our preferred type of design seamlessly integrates visual appeal with practical functionality. We gravitate towards solutions that are elegantly simple yet effective, addressing subtle problems that users may not initially recognise. This approach combines artistic creativity with industrial design principles and refined user experience, enhancing daily interactions with ease and sophistication. We are passionate about crafting designs that strike a perfect balance between aesthetics and usability, enriching people's lives by making everyday tasks more intuitive and enjoyable.
6To you, what makes a “good” design?
A "good" design seamlessly blends form and function, addressing user needs with creativity and practicality. It enhances usability while also considering sustainability and ethical impact, leaving a positive and lasting impression.
7How did you come up with the idea for your award-winning design?
We came up with the idea for our award-winning design by noticing a gap in traditional billiards training methods. We were inspired to use modern technology to improve skill development and engagement in the sport. By incorporating gamification and real-time feedback, we envisioned smart gloves that provide interactive tutorials and easy progress tracking through smart devices. Our goal was to create a practical and accessible tool for billiards practice, suitable for both beginners and seasoned players looking to refine their techniques and enhance their game.
8What was your main source of inspiration for this design?
Our inspiration for the Stroko smart gloves came from our desire to revolutionise billiards training. We wanted to blend modern technology with traditional skill development to create a more engaging and accessible learning experience. By incorporating gamification and real-time feedback, we aimed to enhance players' techniques and posture. The gloves connect seamlessly to smart devices, enabling flexible practice sessions and personalised progress tracking wherever players are.
9Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Our Chinese heritage and education in the USA have profoundly shaped our design process. From China, we bring a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and the integration of functionality with aesthetic appeal. Our American education has exposed us to diverse design methodologies, technological advancements, and global perspectives, enriching our approach to creating meaningful and impactful designs.
10Congratulations! As the winner of the London Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Thank you so much! Receiving this award has truly bolstered our pride and confidence. It serves as validation that we are making informed and beneficial decisions for our endeavours. This recognition fuels our determination to continue striving for excellence and making meaningful contributions in our chosen field.
11Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the London Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
In the realm of billiards, mastering foundational skills and maintaining correct postures are critical for achieving precision and consistency in gameplay. However, traditional methods of practice often rely on external coaching, specific timing, and fixed locations, presenting challenges for players seeking independent improvement. Recognising these hurdles, our design team embarked on creating a solution that merges technology with the essential needs of billiard players.
Stroko is a pair of smart gloves designed for billiard enthusiasts, offering a fresh approach to skill development and posture correction through gamification. Stroko offers Free explore mode and Tutor mode – users can tailor their learning experience to suit their preferences. In tutor mode, users engage with challenges, receive rewards, and unlock achievements, all aimed at refining their posture and achieving their learning objectives. Real-time visual and haptic feedback mechanisms are integrated to assist users in maintaining optimal positions during practice sessions. Meanwhile, free explore mode provides users with greater autonomy while still allowing them to monitor their performance closely.
It seamlessly connects to any smart device, allowing users to access online tutorials, training programs, and performance records at their convenience. This feature empowers users to refine their techniques and track their progress effectively, whether they are practicing at home or on the go. Stroko serves as a versatile tool for skill development, offering billiard enthusiasts the resources they need to improve their game and master the sport with confidence. With this design, we are looking forward to helping more people improve their skills and enjoy this sport!
12What were the main challenges you faced during the design process, and how did you overcome them?
As designers, our main challenge was balancing user needs with technical constraints. We overcame this through iterative prototyping and user testing, collaborating closely with developers to ensure our solutions were both functional and user-friendly.
13How do you think winning this award will impact your future as a designer?
Winning this award will have a positive impact on our future as designers. It boosts our confidence and motivation, while also enhancing our credibility and visibility within the design community. This recognition opens doors to new opportunities for collaborations and projects. We are inspired to continue innovating and pushing boundaries in our future designs.
14What are your top three (3) favorite things about the design industry?
The top three things that we are typically excited about in the design industry are the creative nature of design, the excitement of learning new things and being surrounded by creative and passionate individuals.
15What sets your design apart from others in the same category?
What sets our design apart is its unique focus on billiard players through a pair of smart gloves, rather than the typical sportswear or equipment solutions. Stroko integrates advanced technology with real-time visual and haptic feedback to help players perfect their posture and skills. It offers a gamified learning experience with both structured challenges and a flexible exploration mode and seamlessly connects to smart devices for personalised training and performance tracking. This innovative approach to enhancing skill development and practice in a niche sport distinguishes Stroko from other designs in the sportswear category.
16Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, the design industry will blend industrial design, UI/UX, VR/XR/AR, and AI more seamlessly. AI will enhance personalisation and efficiency, while VR/XR/AR will offer immersive design and testing environments. UI/UX will focus on creating intuitive interactions within these technologies, and industrial design will integrate these advancements into smart, user-centered products. This convergence will lead to more innovative and personalised design solutions.
17What advice do you have for aspiring designers who want to create award-winning designs?
For aspiring designers aiming to create award-winning designs, it's essential to start by understanding user needs and solving real problems creatively. Continuously iterate on your ideas based on feedback, ensuring attention to detail and usability. Stay informed about industry trends and seek guidance from mentors to refine your skills. Most importantly, persist in pushing the boundaries to craft designs that leave a lasting impact.
18What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
To improve skills in the design industry, we recommend leveraging various practical resources. Online courses from platforms like Coursera and Udemy offer valuable training and hands-on experience in industrial design. Interactive courses from the Interaction Design Foundation, combined with tools like Figma and Adobe XD, are essential for mastering UI/UX design. Specialised courses and workshops are ideal for gaining practical skills and insights in furniture design. Engaging in design communities and working on real projects will also enhance expertise across these areas.
19Who has inspired you in your life and why?
As a team, we’re inspired by Dieter Rams. His commitment to simplicity and functionality in design motivates us to focus on creating clean, user-centered solutions. Rams' philosophy of "less, but better" drives us to pursue excellence in every project we undertake.
20What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
There’s no bad design, only designs that don’t fit the market.
