The Crystal Cabin Award – the most prestigious award in the fields of cabin technology and passenger experience – has been presented at a gala dinner in Hamburg on May 28, 2024. Tongji Team won the “University” category and this is a first in China. DENG Chulei and YUAN Haoyang, two third-year undergraduate students from Industrial Design program of Tongji University College of Design and Innovation received the award and present their design to the local media at Aircraft Interiors Expo.

A jury of 28 industry experts selected the eight most innovative products from a wide range of submissions. Overall, the award-winning entries represent a vision of air travel that is more connected, more comfortable, more sustainable and more accessible than ever before.

The "University" category is one of the most innovative areas of the Crystal Cabin Awards and is intended to provide a forum for particularly creative designs. Tongji team won this award this year for the "Flexifold" concept. The innovative economy seat offers airlines more flexibility and new revenue opportunities. A folding and snapping mechanism provides efficient body support. The design combines lightweight and comfort with three cushions for customisable privacy, recline angle and footrest that can be easily attached to existing seats. Tutors for this design work are MO Jiao, LIU Zhenyuan, and MA Ke, who are from Next Mobility Lab of Tongji University College of Design and Innovation.

The Crystal Cabin Award, initiated by Hamburg Aviation, has been held annually since 2007 and is one of the most prestigious international awards in the field of aircraft cabin innovation. It is also a standard setter for the future of flying travel experience. The award includes eight categories and adopts the slogan "Let your ideas take off."