Dublin university student Daniella Kaligorsky has been praised for her vision and outstanding product development after winning the 2019 Design Innovation in Plastics competition.

Innovate Product Design are honoured to sponsor the Design Innovation in Plastics award once again this year. The DIP challenges and celebrates student designers to invent and design a new polymer based product around a current theme in society.

In a tense but exciting awards ceremony in London on Friday, Daniella, a third year Product Design student from Technological University Dublin, was announced the winner with her product, CHECKKIT, a kit which shows how to conduct a self-examination for breast cancer.

The kit includes models that simulate the breast and the physical symptoms of breast cancer and it also has a brochure to explain what to do and how to recognise 12 possible symptoms, along with a notebook to log results.

Industry headline sponsored by Covestro, and the longest running student plastics design competition of its type, DIP asks university students to come up with brand new products made primarily of plastic.

Competition organisers, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners, this year set the challenging brief of ‘Healthy body – healthy world’ inviting ideas for improving health, wellbeing or encouraging exercise, with a product which could demonstrate longevity and sustainability.

Commenting on the winner, chairman of judges, Richard Brown, said the panel was extremely impressed with Daniella’s thorough research into the medical and practical need; her comprehensive review of materials to get the right texture and touch for her product, along with her analysis of manufacturing methods, costs, end user experience and sustainability. She had also given due consideration to competitor products.

“We felt very strongly that this was a product that would enhance wellbeing and was market-ready to meet Daniella’s vision for it,” he added.

Another member of the panel, technical engineer, Mike Stuart, formerly of Covestro, said the well thought through manufacturing and practical presentation would help de-stigmatise the subject of breast examination and make it useable even in schools.

“This product could be put into production fairly quickly, and we feel a possible future application could be a similar kit for testicular cancer,” he explained.

Daniella said losing a member of her family to breast cancer had inspired her to look deeper into this subject and try to address the problem. “It is a great opportunity to be able to pursue product design and be recognised and acknowledged by such a great competition and I am proud that the significance of the problem with cancer is recognised,” she said.

“I’ve learned a substantial amount about plastics and the manufacturing process. There is still so much to learn, and I am excited to take a step further to discover more about the world of plastics and the benefits that it can provide.”

The five finalists, who were praised for their concepts and their very high level of professionalism, will all receive cash prizes and short work placements with one of the competition sponsors: Brightworks; Innovate Product Design; PDD and RJG Technologies.

The winner will take a trip to Germany to visit Covestro, and will be joined by Christopher Kay, who was given special recognition by Covestro for his innovation.

Many congratulations to all the finalists from all at Design Innovation in Plastics!

Full results:

Daniella Kaligorsky, 3rd year product design student, Technological University Dublin. Product name: Checkkit - A kit for raising breast cancer awareness by promoting self-examination.Materials used: Silicone 10 shore and ABS. The chosen silicone properties were selected due to flexibility and the material being able to replicate the texture of the skin. The ABS, used for replicating a tumour and for the back plate, to replicate the stiffness required.

Kai Wang, 4th year integrated product design student, Brunel University. His product, ‘POTLUCK’, is a clever combined cooking and storage device that encourages and simplifies the production of stock cubes using food waste. Materials used: HTV silicone rubber for main body of product, handles and lid. Base plates and support ring made using 316L stainless steel to optimise product durability and lifespan.

Christopher Kay, a 4th year product design student from De Montfort University came third with ‘EnviroJect’ – a re-usable syringe system, providing a safe and sustainable method of administering medications. Materials used: a combination of PP, ABS, COC film, and rubber

Highly commended:

Louis Farnsworth, 3rd year product design student from De Montfort University, with ‘Air’ - a smart breathing aid for asthmatics to reduce asthma flare up and irritation to the lungs and airway when exercising. Materials used: a combination of polypropylene, silicone (Shore AA 40 & Shore 00 10) and ABS (metalised).

Namgyun Ryu, 1st year MSc Integrated Product Design student from Brunel University, with ‘Tri Walker’ – a walking aid for the elderly providing enhanced mobility improved functionality over conventional walking aids. Materials used:Polycarbonate