Morpho Helmet: A Beacon of Safety and Sustainability

Designer Jie Qian's Award-Winning Helmet Inspired by Nature's Brilliance

The Morpho Helmet stands out for its unique properties. It is designed to make cyclists more visible at night, as light bounces off the helmet in city traffic. When a cyclist turns their head to check for safety, the changing angle causes the reflective material on the helmet to catch the lights from the headlights of cars behind. This feature enhances safety by making it easier for drivers to notice cyclists, without the need for any electricity.

The helmet's design was inspired by the Morpho butterfly, known for its intense blue color that is not due to any pigment but the way light reflects off the microscopic scales on its wings. This collaboration with nature is the main concept of the helmet design, replicating the butterfly's iridescent quality.

Not only is the Morpho Helmet innovative in its design, but it also champions sustainability. The shell of the helmet is made from plastic found in the ocean and is mass-produced using injection molding. This approach aligns with the growing global emphasis on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

The helmet's dimensions are 260mm x 210mm x 185mm, and it automatically spots the cyclist's head gesture without any additional power. The design project started in March 2017 in New York and was completed in June of the same year. The design process involved extensive research into the structure of the wings of Morpho butterflies and the analysis of structural color to determine the geometric forms that could be used as texture.

Overcoming the challenges of this project, such as determining the exact angle of each reflective surface on the helmet by recording the head gestures of cyclists, and finding a material that was light, hard, sustainable, and easy to manufacture, Jie Qian has created a design that is not only functional and aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally conscious.

In conclusion, the Morpho Helmet by Jie Qian is a testament to the power of design to enhance safety, promote sustainability, and draw inspiration from the natural world. It is a shining example of how design can be used to address real-world issues and improve our everyday lives.