Core77 Design Awards

Student Notable

Transportation Award

Core77 Design Awards 2018

Results Announced for Community Choice Prize See All Winners

MORPHO HELMET

The Morpho helmet is a bike helmet that emulates the intense blue of the Morpho butterfly. The Morpho butterfly, which can be seen in dense rain forests, gets its color not from any exterior pigment, but because of the way light reflects off the microscopic scales on its wings.

The collaboration of the "Morpho" with nature is the main concept of my helmet design. I try to replicate its iridescent quality. This will make cyclists easier to spot at night as the light bounces off the top of their helmets in city traffic.

When a cyclist wants to make a turn, he/she will look behind to check whether or not it is safe. The changing angle will cause the reflective material on the helmet to detect the lights from the headlight of the car behind. The helmet will enhance the safety because it makes it easier for drivers to notice without any electricity at night.

The project started in March 2017 in Newyork and finished in June. I researched the structure of the wings of the morpho butterflies. I tried to find what type of the geometric forms could be utilized as the texture by analyzing structural color.

It is difficult to calculate the angle of the reflective material. I analysis the head gesture of the cyclist to figure out the right angle. I tested the prototype several times to see whether it works.