TALENTED DUO ACHIEVE ‘HEARTFELT’ RECOGNITION

Two Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies students, Jessica Vea and Gayle Lee, were selected among six finalists in the global 2021 Lexus Design Awards competition. Their concept, ‘Heartfelt’ aims to strengthen bonds and decrease feelings of loneliness amongst people in isolation. Designed with the idea of a virtual hug in mind, Heartfelt has two individual parts, to be kept by separated people. The small, heartshaped device is a medium for wordless communication, and warms up when both parts are being held at the same time.