'Best of the Best' in design concept category for medical devices and technology; product design award also secured

Prosthetic shaped by 3D scan of intact limb, integrating function and form into a single frame

A biomimetic generative prosthetic leg developed by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service [Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute]
A biomimetic generative prosthetic leg developed by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service [Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute]

A domestically developed prosthetic leg that integrates structural function and external form based on the user's own body shape has earned international recognition. The achievement goes beyond the conventional approach of concealing mechanical components behind a cosmetic cover — the prosthetic's structure itself is the design, and the wearer's psychological and emotional acceptance was factored in from the start.

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service announced Thursday that its Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute's independently developed "biomimetic generative prosthetic leg" won the Best of the Best award in the medical device and technology category of the design concept division at the Red Dot Design Award 2026.

The Red Dot Design Award ranks among the world's three most prestigious design prizes, alongside Germany's iF Design Award and the US IDEA. The Best of the Best is presented to designs judged particularly outstanding within each category. The prosthetic also received a Red Dot Winner award — the main prize — in the healthcare category of the product design division, recognizing both its forward-looking design concept and innovation and the quality, functionality and completeness of the physical product.

Development of the prosthetic began with a key observation: in existing products, the load-bearing mechanical structure and the elements that recreate the leg's outward appearance are separate. The research team focused on integrating the two into a single design so that users could naturally accept the prosthetic as part of their own body.

The design process started with the user's body. Three-dimensional shape data from the user's intact leg served as the baseline, with load requirements, space for internal components and manufacturing constraints all factored in together. The team then applied generative design — a method that derives optimal shapes from given conditions — alongside topology optimization technology to minimize material while preserving structural integrity.

The resulting form was produced using additive manufacturing with an aluminum alloy, building up the metal layer by layer through a process that selectively melts and solidifies metal powder with a laser. The focus throughout was on integrating body shape and structural function into a single frame to secure both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

User choice over appearance was also considered. A detachable skin cover lets wearers select the look they prefer. The research team is also exploring the possibility of extending the design methodology to other products that attach directly to the human body, such as wearable robots and rehabilitation devices.

The design was led by senior researcher Kwon Chil-yong, with a team that included Park Jin-guk, Lee Hee-tae, Kim Seung-ki, Park Na-yeon, Hong Beom-gi, Park Yun-hee and Park Se-hun. The prosthetic also won the grand prize at the 25th Ergonomic Design Award last year.

The award ceremony for the design concept division will be held Thursday at Capitol Theatre in Singapore. The winning works will be showcased through the Red Dot official exhibition and online exhibition.

Park Seung-heup, president of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, said the recognition was meaningful because rehabilitation engineering research that considers both the body and the mind of the user had earned international validation. "We will continue to develop rehabilitation assistive devices that workers injured on the job can feel making a real difference in their daily lives, supporting improvements in quality of life and a return to work," he said.


fact0514@heraldcorp.com