Header: Overade
Made for city riders who navigate traffic daily, the LIFE helmet from Overade integrates lighting and signalling features directly into the helmet itself to make cyclists more visible to drivers. Designed by Jeremy Pointel and Philippe Arrouart, the helmet’s most interesting details include turn signals, hazard indicators, and even a brake light that automatically responds to deceleration.
Rather than relying on a phone or app, the system is controlled using Overade’s OXI Wireless remote. This remote can be mounted to the handlebars and lets the rider manage signals without needing to take their hands off the bike. One button can trigger a high-intensity flash from the front light—useful in low-visibility situations or when approaching intersections—while other controls turn on the turn signals or hazard lights.
While the lighting features are the focus of this design, the helmet also focuses on comfort and practical everyday use. It is equipped with vegan leather straps and a transparent visor for protection, and it can be disassembled and repaired whenever needed. This shows the designers’ thoughts on sustainability, as users can keep their gear in use longer rather than replacing it when one part fails.
The helmet is the winner of the Sport Equipment Design category for cycling at the FIT Sport Design Awards, and it’s not hard to see why: the design shows that safety features don’t have to come as separate accessories and that integrating them directly into a helmet can reduce the number of things a rider needs to remember, wear, or charge.
