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Excellence in Inclusive Design Recognised at Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Design Awards

From ground-breaking patent-pending technology that could radically improve the lives of Parkinson’s patients to tackling air-quality in polluted cities, the Royal College of Art (RCA) has announced the winners of the Helen Hamlyn Design Awards 2019. 


The annual awards, organised by the RCA Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design (HHCD), recognises creativity in people-centred designs across all disciplines.

The HHCD undertakes design research and projects with industry that contribute to improving people's lives. 

There are six main award categories and each winner received £2,000 prize money to support further development of their project. Winners were chosen by a panel of experts from a shortlist based on evidence of a real social issue or problem, rigorous research including user-testing and worthiness of solution.

These winning projects will be showcased alongside a selection of the HHCD’s most engaging design projects at an exhibition at StudioRCA. 

Designs for Real Life

6 July 2019 to 4 August 2019 | Open 12–6pm on Saturdays & Sundays
StudioRCA, 1 Riverlight Quay, Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5AU
Free


Helen Hamlyn Design Award for Healthcare (design concepts that contribute to health and well-being)
Winner: Isabelle Ohlson and Bianca Benvenuto | MA Service Design | Good Talk – a community-driven service and digital platform that enables conversations for young people about their mental health.

Isabelle Ohlson and Bianca Benvenuto | MA Service Design | Good Talk
Good Talk, Isabelle Ohlson and Bianca Benvenuto 2019


TCS Design Award for Digital Inclusion (projects that use digital technology in a way that will benefit people or address societal need)
Winner: Jianbo Zhao | MA Global Innovation Design | ACcU – a digital tool which combines ancient Chinese acupressure techniques with advanced computer vision technology.

Winner: JianBo Zhao | MA Global Innovation Design | ACcU
ACcU, JianBo Zhao 2019
Photographer: Stephen Pover


IA Interiors Design Award for Work Futures (ideas that can make our working space and working lives more effective, comfortable and sustainable, irrespective of age and ability).
Winner: Jihee Moon | MA Design Products | Air-It-Yourself – an inexpensive DIY air purifier that anyone can make at home by reusing everyday household materials.

Jihee Moon | MA Design Products | Air-It-Yourself
Air-It-Yourself, Jihee Moon 2019
Photographer: Stephen Pover


Snowdon Award for Disability (projects that meet the needs and aspirations of people with diverse abilities)
Winner: Rocco Giovannoni | MA Design Products | Inmergo – a patent-pending form of bone conduction audio technology.
Rocco Giovannoni | MA Design Products | Inmergo
Inmergo, Rocco Giovannoni 2019
Photographer: Stephen Pover


Scott Brownrigg Design Award for Inclusive Spaces (ideas that can make our future cities, public spaces and private spaces more inclusive)
Winner:  Rhea Adaimi | MA Interior Design | Capital Carbon – A conceptual design to combat air pollution in future London.

Winner:  Rhea Adaimi | MA Interior Design | Capital Carbon
Capital Carbon, Rhea Adaimi 2019


Helen Hamlyn Award for Creativity – (this is personally awarded by Lady Hamlyn to the project that best fits the ethos of the Helen Hamlyn Centre, that is, design to improve life).

Joint Winner: Amir Afshar | MA Innovation Design Engineering | AmbLis – a dynamic mobility aid that takes the form of a comfortable pair of body hugging shorts.

Amir Afshar | MA Innovation Design Engineering | AmbLis
AmbLis, Amir Afshar 2019


Joint Winner: Lucy Jung | MA Innovation Design Engineering | Moment – a patent-pending wearable device that improves the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Lucy Jung | IDE | THE MOMENT
THE MOMENT, Lucy Jung 2019