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4th Year Student Daniel Gleiberman Receives Prestigious Red Dot Design Award

Gleiberman-Gilligator-Red-Dot-Group
Daniel Gleiberman, Gillig
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By Roxanne Toronto

Posted on December 08, 2015 | Updated August 06, 2019, 9:05am

The Gilligator is a medical assistive device to aid veterinarians during fish surgeries.

Fourth year Industrial Design major Daniel Gleiberman was recently recognized with a Red Dot Design award, one of the most respected design awards in the world. His project Gilligator, which won a Design Concept Award in the Flora and Fauna category, is a breathing device he developed to assist veterinarians during fish surgery.

When we think about aquariums, operating on fish isn't something that immediately springs to mind. But the reality is that for aquariums that house thousands of fish, surgery is pretty commonplace. During these surgeries, in order to keep fish properly sedated and breathing, a constant flow of water over both sets of gills is required. This typically requires the aid of an additional veterinarian to hold and adjust a tube of water. The Gilligator has the ability to hold the device in place and ensure water flow.

Composed of three parts, the Gilligator has:

  • a mouthpiece, made of a strong but flexible plastic that goes inside the mouth to prevent water leakage
  • a sprayer, the main body of the device which has a flow control valve used to both turn water on/off and control pressure to accommodate different species of fish, and
  • a connector, which comes with a screw to fit most standard hoses to connect to the water source.

Not only does the Gilligator alleviate the need for a second veterinarian to be present during routine surgery, it also ensures that fish are treated in the most safe and humane way.

“The Gilligator is heavily influenced by garden hose attachments. The quick connect and simplicity of them was something I wanted to carry over into the design.”

Daniel Gleiberman


When asked about the research that went into the design, Daniel explains that he worked closely with several veterinarians at the Vancouver Aquarium to understand how they work with fish and what fish surgeries entail. He also undertook an extensive amount of materials research to determine what he could manufacture and how the components would react with water. The nature of his research required a great deal of rapid prototyping, leading him to purchase his first 3D printer.

The final form of Gilligator continues to evolve as vets at the Vancouver Aquarium provide ongoing feedback that aid in nuances to the design. Daniel’s hope is to develop the device for use in aquariums throughout the world.

On winning a Red Dot, Daniel says, “This award is just the beginning of my collection, which I hope to add to throughout my career.”

Check out more of Daniel’s work here.

Five Questions with Daniel Gleiberman

1. What’s been most inspiring to you during your studies here at Emily Carr?

The wide array of projects that the students here produce as well as the occasional project or build that is always in the hallway is always an inspiration. When I see something novel or new I need to find out how it was built and what I can do with this new information. How it can be integrated into whatever I am working on next.

2. How has your practice changed since you began your studies here?

I have learned so much about making and producing. From material production and manufacturing, I have learned how to design for different production methods and how to explore form through making. I make a lot of paper and foam core models before I move to the materials and production methods.

3. What memorable responses have you had to your work?

A lot of people see my projects and say, ‘I didn't even think of that’, in regards to the types of problems I solve. Take this project, the Gilligator — nearly everyone I talk to doesn’t realize fish surgeries are a thing. I really enjoy problem-solving and finding unique projects to work on that have solutions that seem simple but require a lot of specific knowledge and research to figure out.

4. Where do you see yourself after graduation/what is your professional goal?

My ideal job would be designing for a big company like Braun or P&G doing product design, or Microsoft designing technology. It is really hard to imagine where I will be even a year from now. To me, what would be awesome would be to have someone tell me about this cool thing they saw or bought and being able to tell them that I designed it.

5. Can you name one thing you couldn’t do without in your art or design practice?

A drawer full of junk. It is honestly the best way to problem solve. There is always something that helps you solve a problem just by being there. It can be a few things to play with and build with in unexpected ways. I always keep a small pile of interesting or weird objects, as well as some common ones that I can play around with or tape together.