Universal Design Grand Challenge 2015

On Thursday, 4th June 2015, students from third-level colleges across Ireland presented their design projects at the second Universal Design Grand Challenge Awards ceremony in the Westin Hotel, Dublin.

Go Therapeutic Horse Riding Aid wins the UDGC People’s Choice Award 2015 and the UDGC Judges' Choice Award 2015

The winner of the “Peoples’ Choice Award”, voted on by members of the audience  was from Jack Gregan from IT Carlow for his  design “Go Therapeutic Horse Riding Aid”. 

The “Judge’s Choice Award” was selected by a panel of lead Irish designers and innovators.  This year’s winner of the Judge’s Choice Award was also Jack Gregan from IT Carlow for his  design “Go Therapeutic Horse Riding Aid”. 

The “Go Therapeutic Horse Riding Aid” is designed to enhance and improve the therapy of horse-riding for everyone involved. 

Go therapeutic horse riding aid

This year also saw a new award category supported by Enterprise Ireland.  The “Universal Design Commercialisation Award”  provides support to winners to receive a Commercial Case Feasibility Grant from Enterprise Ireland.  There were two “Universal Design Commercialisation Award”  winners:  The “Go Therapeutic Horse Riding Aid” by Jack Gregan and the “Ripple” universal jerry can cap and filtration system by Isabella Morehead and Dylan McKimm from NCAD.     

Ripple

See highlights from the award night

Runners up on the night were:

Design name: The Zoomerframe

Student name: Stefan Walshe

Tutor name: Gareth Bennett

College and course name: Universal Design Innovation, TCD

Individual or team entry: Team

Zoomerframe

Design name: Stride

Student name: Patrick Horrigan

Tutor name: Sam Russell

College and course name: NCAD

Individual or team entry: Individual

Stride

Design name: Haven

Student name: Nichola Disley

Tutor name: Enda Finn

College and course name: DKIT

Individual or team entry: Team

Haven

Design name: Access in Advance:The Development of a Building Access Rating

Student name: Davitt Lamon

Tutor name: Emma Geoghegan

College and course name: DIT

Individual or team entry: Individual

Access in advance

Design name: Kanyu

Student name: Seán Larkin

Tutor name: Ray Ekins

College and course name: DIT

Individual or team entry: Individual

Kanyu

What is the UDGC?

The Universal Design Grand Challenge (UDGC) is a design competition that promotes and awards design excellence in Ireland. The UDGC invites third level students in their final two years of study, post grads and recent graduates to enter their best student project to compete for two National Universal Design Student Awards.

This years UDGC features a special, optional prize, the "Universal Design Commercialistaion Award"  supported by Enterprise Ireland.

Prizes

UDGC People’s Choice Award 2015 Trophy (travelling perpetual trophy) €1,000.00 in prize money (€500 for the school plus €500 for the designer(s))  
UDGC Judges’ Choice Award 2015 Trophy (travelling perpetual trophy) €1,000.00 in prize money (€500 for the school plus €500 for the designer(s))Highly Commended entries will be also be announced at the UDGC event.
The Enterprise Ireland “Universal Design Commercialisation Award” will provide one or more of the shortlisted entrants with a Commercial Case Feasibility Grant.  

More about the Enterprise Ireland “Universal Design Commercialisation Award”

The Commercial Case Feasibility Grant by Enterprise Ireland recognises the excellence in applied research in the Higher Education sector and the need for business development expertise to complement researchers’ technical expertise, to develop strong commercialisation strategies for innovations.

The funding will be paid to an Irish 3rd Level Institution for the purposes of employing a consultant to explore the market/commercial opportunity for the winning entry/entries.  The value of the funding is up to €15,000 per project.  Any application must be made in co-operation with a 3rd Level Technology Transfer Office and all IP relating to the project must be in the ownership of the 3rd Level Institution for the project to qualify. 
UDGCtrophy

The Brief

Enter your student project.  Show how your design achieves at least 4 out of the 7 Principles of Universal Design.

Acknowledgements

The Universal Design Grand Challenge Student Awards 2015 is run by the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, NDA.  

The UDGC 2015 is part of Irish Design 2015.  

The "Universal Design Commercialistaion Award" is supported by Enterprise Ireland.

Organisation and administration of the UDGC 2015 is supported by DesignHub Tullamore.  

Logos: NDA, Irish Design 2015, Enterprise Ireland.  Supported by Design Hub, Tullamore