The award ceremony of the 2026 iF DESIGN AWARD was recently held in Berlin, Germany. A research team led by Assistant Professor Wang Yicheng from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT) won the annual iF Design Award for their work TriboPure TENG Self-powered Portable Sterilization and Water Purification Device.
Award Ceremony
Wang Yicheng (second from left) at the award ceremony
Established in 1953, the iF Design Award is ranked among the Top 3 design awards in the world, alongside the Red Dot Design Award in Germany and the Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) in America. It is hailed as the "Oscar of the Design Industry" and the "Olympics of Product Design". In this year’s event, an independent jury of 129 international experts selected award-winning entries from 10,003 submissions across 68 countries and regions.
With innovative materials as the core, the pressurized water purification device adopts a mechanism of mechanical pressing-based energy harvesting and integrated electrical inactivation to effectively eliminate pathogens in water. Featuring self-power supply, zero energy consumption, and eco-friendliness, it offers an innovative solution to the global challenges related to drinking water safety in regions suffering from water scarcity. The interdisciplinary design concept and integrated educational model embodied in this project set an important example for promoting interdisciplinary innovation in the future.
Design Work
The achievement highlights BIFT’s strength in interdisciplinary scientific research. The institution will continuously strive to foster scientific and technological innovation, drive industrial upgrading, and serve the national initiatives for sustainable development.