Designing the future of forest firefighting
Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024
HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) is one of the largest banks in the world and has been awarded a Red Dot in the Service Design category of the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024. The awarded project “HSBC Trusted ID” offers a solution for the secure and efficient presentation and verification of identities in the digital space. It uses trusted verification by banks to improve the handling of personal data. The concept enables the reliable issuance and protection of identity documents through the use of digital signatures and distributed ledger technology. This technology is a digital system for decentralised storage and management of data on multiple networked computers that promotes security, transparency and decentralisation and does not require a central authority. The design concept paves the way for a future where people can securely and easily prove their identity online without compromising their personal information.
In this interview, the Group Head of Labs (Interim) of HSBC Guangzhou, Benjamin Chodroff, and Liu Wenzhu, Product Innovation Lead at HSBC, tell us more about their project.
What is HSBC Trusted Identity’s background and why is it so relevant?
We are always looking for better customer experiences and innovative directions in resolving future problems. Identity is one of the biggest and most interesting problems in our business, hence we think it is necessary to address the challenges that people face in their daily lives with innovation.
Why is good design crucial to the success of this project?
Good design enables people to understand and engage with our vision and possibilities. In the context of the HSBC Trusted ID concept, good design ensures that the solution is easily accessible and adaptive, making it more likely to be adopted and embraced by individuals and organisations.
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What is the aim of this project?
In a world where deep fakes exist, we will have to use multiple ways to prove our identities. HSBC Trusted Identity could be one of the ways to address these challenges and build a more secure and collaborative future. By empowering individuals to manage their own identities and collaborating with ecosystem partners, we can create a better future for everyone.
What is the most difficult hurdle to overcome to make this project a success?
The biggest challenge is in understanding the new technology and shaping a service world view. What is the minimum unit that represents your identity? Why should your identity lie in a wallet? How do you manage your identity? Why can’t your bank serve you in recovering your data if you lose your wallet? All those definition-level questions impact our understanding and help us shape new daily norms.
We want people to understand that this is not just a technical proof of concept, but a deductive argument and a catalyst for ecosystem service innovation. When people encounter a new technology or design, they often expect something revolutionary or awe-inspiring. However, some designs aim to simulate familiar experiences.
In this project, our goal is not to create a completely new and magical experience, but to provide a tool that demonstrates its functionality and sparks innovation for the future. We need individuals to feel ambitious, excited, and aware of the changing norms. Communicating the true purpose and function of the design is our greatest mission within this team.
What does being awarded a Red Dot mean for the team?
Being awarded a Red Dot is particularly important for HSBC as it is our first award of this kind. This recognition is a breakthrough moment for HSBC. It validates the idea that design serves as a future argument and reinforces our commitment to co-designing the future with society, rather than relying solely on our own perspectives.
