2017 Universal Design Grand Challenge Student Awards
On Thursday 25 May 2017, students from third-level colleges across Ireland presented their design projects at the third annual Universal Design Grand Challenge Awards ceremony in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin. The awards are an initiative of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority, supported by Enterprise Ireland.
The theme of this year’s awards was “Solutions that work for everyone”. The National Disability Authority’s Chairperson Helen Guinan said:
“We were delighted to see the entries for this year’s Universal Design Grand Challenge Awards coming from such a wide range of disciplines: from product and industrial design, to mechanical engineering and computer software and gaming. The eight finalists demonstrate Universal Design is being taught more and more in third-level colleges and students are responding to the challenge of designing useful and beautiful solutions that benefit the widest range of people possible.”
Judges Choice Award for Information and Communication Technology
The Judges Choice Award for Information and Communication Technology went to Aine O’Reilly from University of Limerick for “Zobi” – a new design of hardware and software that allows children with diabetes to monitor their own blood sugar levels. Zobi will alert a parent and the child if the blood sugar levels require attention. This photo shows Aine receiving her 3D printed trophy and her certificate from Declan Brady, President, Irish Computer society (left) and Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design:
Judges Choice Award for Products and Services
The Judges Choice Award for Products and Services went to Sarah Twaddle and Megan Sands from National College of Art and Design for Positive Future+ - an innovative packaging design, awareness campaign and mobile network support system for anti-retroviral medication in Sub Saharan Africa. This photo shows L-R Kim McKenzie Doyle, President of the Institute of Designers in Ireland, Megan Sands, Sarah Twaddle and Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design:
Enterprise Ireland “Universal Design Commercialisation Award”
The Enterprise Ireland “Universal Design Commercialisation Award” went to Fiachra Doherty, Clodagh Dunne, Conor Molloy and Jamie Carroll from University College Dublin for their PnP Analytics software solution to use data from a pressure mat to assess the risk of pressure ulcers for a patient in a hospital bed. This photo shows L-R David Flood, Senior Commercialisation Specialist from Enterprise Ireland, Fiachra Doherty, Conor Molloy, Clodagh Dunne, Jamie Carroll and Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design
David Flood from Enterprise Ireland added:
“Novel design thinking is an integral part of the research & innovation agenda supported by Enterprise Ireland. The Universal Design Grand Challenge is a great occasion to encourage the ambition of designers and researchers in Ireland’s third level who want to bring their ideas from the workshop to the marketplace. The UDGC Commercialisation Award gives the winner an opportunity to connect with business and market experts who will help to validate and develop their product concept.”
People’s Choice award
The People’s Choice award, which was voted by audience members went to Cormac Altman, Ross Delaney, Ciaran Sullivan and Will D’Arcy from Dublin Institute of Technology for Odee Smart Hub – a monitoring hub to support people who are at risk of falling in a non-intrusive manner that respects privacy. This photo shows Cormac Altman, Will D’Arcy and Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design
