HAUKI Wins the iF Design Student Award 2025!

We’re excited to share that HAUKI – Water Mapping System has won the iF Design Student Award 2025, one of the most important international awards for designers.

The award ceremony took place on June 20, 2025, at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Our project was chosen among over 7,000 entries from 74 countries, and being there with so many inspiring people and ideas was a big moment for us.

What is HAUKI?

HAUKI is a project that connects outdoor sports with environmental protection. It offers a new and practical way to fight microplastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and seas by making people part of the solution while doing what they love, like paddleboarding, canoeing, or hiking.

At the heart of HAUKI is a plug-in system that fits onto SUP boards, canoes, and surfboards. It has two main parts.

The filter unit has a 5 mm front mesh to catch large debris and a 330 µm mesh for microplastics. The plastic particles are collected in a capsule with a replaceable filter.

The motor unit includes a 500 W engine that gives users extra push, making movement through the water easier and more enjoyable.

As people enjoy their time outdoors, they can collect microplastics and send the samples to research centers. The system also lets users upload data to a shared pollution map, helping track and understand where microplastic pollution is most severe.

Why It Matters

HAUKI was not only selected as a winner but also received a special award from GROHE, sponsor of this year’s competition. These awards were given to just five projects that showed strong innovation and social impact.

Getting this kind of recognition gives us confidence and energy. It tells us that combining design, sport, and science can really make a difference, and that small, smart actions can lead to bigger change.

What’s Next

For us, this award is the beginning of a new chapter.

We are now focused on improving our prototype and testing it in real environments. We’re also looking for partners who share our values and want to help make HAUKI a reality, whether they’re researchers, organizations, or people who care about the environment.

We know there will be challenges ahead. But we are motivated and ready to keep working to bring HAUKI to life.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far — mentors, friends, institutions, and everyone who believes in the power of design to create positive change.

This is just the beginning. The journey of HAUKI continues.