Tam Vu ,Earable Neuroscience

1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.

My name is Tam Vu, the CEO, and co-founder of Earable Neuroscience. I am a scientist and an inventor. I have developed a passion for designing innovative systems and machines that seamlessly integrate multiple functions into one. Along the way, I came to the realization that scientific breakthroughs should be accessible to everyone and should enhance our everyday lives. As a result, I embarked on a journey to create a system that not only boasts cutting-edge scientific features and technological advancements but also elevates our lifestyle and convenience.

2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?

I always wonder why even the greatest minds of our time, like Albert Einstein, only utilize 5-6% of our brain capacities. It turned out that: Some don

3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.

At the very first, I found that the current wearable devices which are able to track brain signal are quite inconvenient, you would not want to wear them in a long period of time. So, I thought, I needed to take action, I have to design a better wearable device so that everyone will be pleasant wearing it. And thanks to innovation breakthroughs from our core technologies (more details will be revealed during the Global Launch Day on 6 Jan, CES 2023), we are currently the most precise and potential consumer wearable that can become the commercial platform for neuroscience applications (starting first with sleep, focus and relaxation enhancement). FRENZ

4 What does “design” mean to you?

I always follow the philosophy of "design for life", meaning that the design has a solid and clear value proposition for end users, in other words, it must be able to solve a common problem better than others, or it attempts to identify new needs and offers itself as the best possible solution. Other factors include the product

5 What’s your favorite kind of design and why?

Since I work in innovative product design, so in my opinion, the design must be stylish, smart, minimal, clean, and sleek.

6 To you, what makes a “good” design?

A "good" design is a design that is accessible to everyone, everywhere, and resolves one of the most concerning problems.

7 Describe your design style and its main characteristics.

What makes us outstanding in wearable design is convenience. Using advanced nano-material science results, we conducted soft thermoplastic elastomers material into FRENZ

8 Tell us about your design process.

With the philosophy of "Designed for Life"

9 Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?

As a Vietnamese who soonly moved to the US to work and study, I understand the demands of Vietnamese consumers when it comes to wellness products. In addition to effectiveness, people in Vietnam look for convenience in daily use and simplicity in terms of data exposure and connectivity with other devices. Drawing on my experiences living in the United States, I have incorporated what I have learned into product design to satisfy not only the demands of Vietnamese consumers but also the needs of people worldwide.

10 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?

This accomplishment signifies that our efforts have been successful, and we are immensely grateful and proud of it. This award proved the potential of our company in particular and of the Earable industry in general. And this is the first major step for Earable

11 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

Long before moving to the US, receiving my Ph.D. at Rutgers, and later becoming a professor at the University of Oxford and the University of Colorado Boulder, I would wonder why even the greatest minds of our time, like Albert Einstein, only utilize 5-6% of our brain capacities. It turned out that: Some don

12 What was the biggest challenge with this project?

As with other wearable designs, we are now looking for the most accurate way to data gathering, monitor, and diagnosis of health problems. The human mind is something very unpredictable, which is why finding a way to increase the accuracy of the design is exactly like groping in the dark.

13 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?

We

14 What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?

I highly value the purpose of MUSE, which is to inspire designers to push boundaries and challenge fundamental ideas through their expertise and advancements. Additionally, I believe that competitiveness and user-centeredness are also important aspects to consider.

15 Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?

The trend of the design industry is customer-centric and experience-centric, and in the next 5-10 years, the design, wearable design in particular, can detect what you want and what you need to propose for you.

16 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring MUSE Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?

Whenever you want to give up, try to remember why did you start, and what kind of world you want it to be, to see that you must not stop right now.

17 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?

Practice for yourself a habit of observing. To realize what is the missing piece in the world, you need to observe from surroundings and people so that you can know what people want and what will help to improve your lives so that your design will be more aesthetic, realistic, and useful for everyone.

18 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.

Being a pioneer is really problematic and uncertain, but its results are really worthwhile.

19 Who has inspired you in your life and why?

Einstein is the one who inspired me the most, from his point of view, his curiosity or his desire to answer a question,... All of that lifestyle is really inspiring.

20 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?

As Einstein quote: "Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work"

WINNING ENTRY

Product
2022
MUSE Design Awards Winner - FRENZ - World’s First Brainband to unleash human potential by Earable Inc

Entrant Company

Earable Inc

Category

Product Design - Wearable Technologies

Product
2022
MUSE Design Awards Winner - FRENZ - World’s First Brainband to unleash human potential by Earable Inc

Entrant Company

Earable Inc

Category

Product Design - Future Technologies (NEW)