Chrys by XiangXu innovative burn recovery pressure system

Chrys

Burn Recovery Pressure System for Xiang Xu and Tengyu Zhao

Chrys is a parametric pressure garment designed for pediatric burn recovery. Utilizing a gradient topology lattice structure, the system automatically densifies over scar tissue to deliver a precise therapeutic pressure of 25 mmHg, while maintaining breathability across healthy skin. The design features a modular identity system that separates medical functionality from the aesthetic layer. This enables young patients to customize the garment with interchangeable visual elements, mitigating treatment-related psychological stress through engaging personalization.

XiangXu 2026 Partnership Silver Press Kit № 182324

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Download Press Kit № 182324 Burn Recovery Pressure System for Xiang Xu and Tengyu Zhao by XiangXu to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.

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Chrys by XiangXu

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Burn Recovery Pressure System by XiangXu

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XiangXu Chrys

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XiangXu Burn Recovery Pressure System

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Maximize the potential of this 1800-pixel image: at 300 DPI, it delivers exceptional detail up to 6 inches, while at 150 DPI, it offers clarity for prints up to 12 inches. Accredited press members can download high-res images free of watermarks. Alternatively, low-res images are instantly available. Please check the Image Credits Section for photo acknowledgements.

Unique Properties

Chrys is a parametric pressure system tailored for pediatric burn recovery. It features a Gradient Topology lattice structure that automatically densifies over scar tissue to apply precise therapeutic pressure (25mmHg) while maximizing breathability in healthy areas. Through a modular identity ecosystem, it separates the medical function from the aesthetic layer, allowing children to wear visually diverse hero avatars such as a lion that can be updated as they grow.

Production Technology

The system replaces traumatic plaster casting with pain-free 3D facial scanning. A parametric algorithm generates a gradient topology lattice, optimizing the 15-25mmHg pressure crucial for scar blanching. The medical layer is 3D-printed using ISO-certified biocompatible elastomers (medical-grade TPU and silicone) for skin safe breathability. This functional interface seamlessly integrates with the 3D-printed aesthetic shell, secured by a universal fabric retention strap.

Design Challenge

Burn recovery historically prioritized corrective clinical logic, forcing children into a medical gaze that emphasizes deficiency. We challenged this paradigm of concealment. Drawing from disability studies, we navigated the tension between standardized efficacy and a child’s right to visible agency. Externally, we faced a lack of ethical frameworks for distributed pediatric manufacturing and facial data privacy. We shifted from mere inclusion to radical belonging, treating technology not as a cure for deficit, but as a platform for self-actualization in a post-stigmatic society.

Project Duration

The project started in May 2025 in Shanghai, and finished in December in Shanghai.

Operation Flow

The recovery journey begins with a gamified companion app. First, a 3D facial scan is taken. Second, the child engages in a gamified co-design process, choosing and customizing their own hero avatar. An AR mirror allows them to preview the mask. Finally, an algorithm generates the pressure-optimized design, which is 3D printed and secured to the child using a standardized, universal rear retention strap.

Research

This qualitative research project aims to destigmatize burn recovery. Methodology is guided by STS, medical philosophy, and embodiment theories. Data is collected from from ethnography, interviews, and extensive literature reviews on lived testimonies. Led by Xiang Xu and Tengyu Zhao, Chrys aims to transcend clinical utility to restore human dignity. Our project hopes to impact society by proposing a new approach of transforming medical design to dismantle stigma within healthcare. Future research plan includes long-term UX testing to truly ground this human-centric approach.

Inspiration

Pediatric burn patients face a rigorous 23-hour/day recovery regimen. Traditional skin-tone masks are often stifling and stigmatizing, creating an Uncanny Valley effect that causes severe psychological trauma. This leads to a compliance crisis where children refuse treatment, risking permanent functional contractures. The inspiration was to transform these medical devices from symbols of sickness into empowering armor, allowing children to reclaim their identity and turn scars into superpowers.

Project Overview

Chrys Burn Recovery Pressure System has been a Silver winner in the Social Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Image Credits

For design images and photos please credit XiangXu.

Silver Recognition

XiangXu was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work Chrys Burn Recovery Pressure System.

XiangXu Newsroom

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You are currently viewing Media Showcase № 182324. Explore XiangXu's newsroom for a complete collection of their award-winning work, including high-resolution images, interviews, and much more. This is Press Kit / Media Showcase 182324 featuring the Chrys. For more in-depth materials, see Newsroom 380758.