Q-Collar Wins 2017 IDEA Gold
By Jamison Float, Sr. Biomedical Engineer, James Lua, Sr. Industrial Designer, Sherry Jones, Sr. Industrial Designer and Kevin Vititoe, Sr. Industrial Designer
Q30 Innovations’ Q-Collar, won an International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2017 Gold award on August 19, 2017 at the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
"A revolutionary approach to protecting the brain, the Q-Collar addresses the problem from the inside out by mimicking the natural defense used by woodpeckers."
The Q-Collar is the world’s first technology to use the body’s natural physiology to protect against mild traumatic brain injury caused by concussive events. A revolutionary approach to protecting the brain, the Q-Collar addresses the problem from the inside out by mimicking the natural defense used by woodpeckers. The Q-Collar applies slight pressure on the neck which mildly increases blood volume in the brain to create a cushion that reduces movement of the brain inside the skull.
The IDEA Awards evaluate product designs based on criteria including the challenge faced, uniqueness, user experience, benefit to the client, and benefit to society. “IDSA IDEA 2017 winners demonstrate how designers are able to capture what’s invisible to others and inspire beauty through the smallest of details within the simplest of artifacts,” said IDEA 2017 Jury Chair Owen Foster, IDSA. “Winners go beyond the tangible that we are so accustomed to seeing—to cultivate amazing, holistic ecosystems.”
Foster led more than two dozen, global design experts in judging 20 categories covering products, brands, experiences, strategies and more. Onsite jurying was held in May at the newly-renamed Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, MI. Proving design truly is a universal language, IDEA attracted hundreds of entries from 54 countries on six continents. Innovations abound in the latest winners submitted by design firms, corporations, universities and more. The competition drew entries from Australia to Austria, Belarus to Brazil, Chile to China and from countries including Croatia, Estonia, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Vatican City State.
Initial and ongoing research has shown a significant reduction in changes to the brain caused by concussive impacts. Priority Designs was proud to aid in the development of the Q-Collar and is honored to be recognized by IDSA. The Q-Collar is a revolutionary product and a breakthrough for athletics, military, and industry, aimed to bring safety and peace of mind to people around the world. To learn more about the development of the Q-Collar, click here to read the full case study.
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About The Author
Specializing in conceptual engineering and bioengineering, Jamison believes that the most important step is not always providing the “answer”, but asking the right question. He thoroughly enjoys working to find a solution that is realistic for everyone involved with the project. From the designers to the marketing team, he works to balance expectations and offer educated engineering solutions.
James has unique empathy for each client’s respective end-users and is motivated to develop appropriate solutions for their unique challenges. He loves every phase of the design process, and thrives on problem solving, storytelling, and conceptual development. He is also a talented guitarist who helps compose original music for his band.
Kevin specializes in sporting goods design. He loves the challenge of creating better-performing products using words like lighter, stronger, faster and safer as design goals. The diverse use of materials, manufacturing processes and products within this category keep him “hooked”. Born and raised in Canada, Kevin also makes his own maple syrup.
When Sherry joined the PD team, there were only 3 others. Over 20 years and 50 people later, she’s still with us! Excelling in concept sketching, she has heavily contributed to design in the sports industry, especially golf. A sports enthusiast herself, in 2004 she was invited to try out for the U.S Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team.