FlowIO is a modular pneumatics development platform that facilitates prototyping in soft robotics and programmable materials, created by Responsive Environments PhD student Ali Shtarbanov with collaborators Hye Jun Youn (Harvard University) and Ozgun Kilic Afsar (KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the Tangible Media research group). The project received two International Design Awards (IDA) during 2021: Gold in Media and Home Electronics/Robotics, and Silver in Education/Self-learning devices.

The International Design Awards (IDA) recognizes and celebrates smart and sustainable multidisciplinary innovation across architecture, interior, product, graphic, and fashion design worldwide. The Farmani Group founded the IDA as the design sibling of the Annual Lucie Awards for Photography, which has emerged as one of the world’s most prestigious photography awards.

FlowIO is also the winner of the 2021 Hackaday Design Prize (Grand Prize), the iF DESIGN TALENT AWARD 2021, the CHI 2021 Student Research Competition (Graduate Level), and has been honored at the 2021 A'Design Awards.