The 2024 Design Intelligence Award (DIA) held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, spotlighted the role of digital technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence in driving innovation. Fourier GR-1, a humanoid robot developed by Shanghai-based Fourier, won the prestigious grand award, recognized for its cutting-edge integration of bionics and high-performance robotics.
Fourier GR-1 is one of the world’s first mass-produced humanoid robots, known for its human-like flexibility and advanced motion control powered by 54 joints and built-in emotional systems. The DIA recognized the robot’s potential to revolutionize various industries with its lifelike capabilities.
This year’s competition received over 8,000 entries from 47 countries and regions, with 39 finalists, showcasing groundbreaking technologies like AI, brain-computer interfaces, virtual reality, and new materials. The entries highlighted the growing intersection of innovation and practical applications, particularly in emerging sectors such as low-altitude economy, digital cultural tourism, and humanoid robotics.
Other notable awardees included the aH-1 helmet, a micro-collapsible bicycle helmet using pressurized air instead of foam, and Tencent’s “Digital Central Axis-Microcosm,” which offers an immersive experience of Beijing’s Central Axis using digital and gaming technologies.
Launched in 2015, the DIA is China’s first international academic competition in industrial design and has become one of the most influential design events globally. The competition reflects China’s growing influence in blending traditional cultural elements with modern technological advancements.