The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has announced the winners of this year's RSA Student Design Awards - which challenges emerging designers at university level to tackle real-world social, environmental and economic issues through design thinking and skills.
"The awards encourage entrepreneurship, creative thinking, business acumen and real-life application," commented Sevra Davis, Director of the RSA Student Design Awards. "The programme's long-standing success is testament to the value of forging inspired partnerships between young creative minds and experienced industry leaders. Since the early 2000s we have encouraged students to think differently about design and to consider design for social impact as a viable career path. We are indebted to our many sponsors for making this a possibility, for their vision and investment in innovation and for nurturing the future leaders of tomorrow."
Briefs are issued each year to encourage designers to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues. This year, over 800 entries from 21 countries across the globe responded to 12 different briefs, around topics such as designing ways to increase mental agility in old age, ensuring mothers and children in emerging markets have the greatest chance of survival through pregnancy and birth, and designing new products or services from disused office furniture.
The winning entries this year include:
Kamereon, a wearable game that utilises 'smart' shoes and geodata to motivate teens to go outside, exercise and socialise;
Infinity Mascara, a refillable mascara that can be applied using a 3D printed fingertip, saving an estimated 25 mascara bottles from landfill per person over 10 years;
Rise, an intelligent carpet that relies solely on human urine to grow crops in refugee camps, specially designed for use in non-fertile humanitarian crisis regions;
Culture Connects - Culture Tower, a board game for school-age children that aims to confront the issues of cultural misunderstanding that lead to social conflict.
Curve, an indoor wheelchair designed as a piece of residential furniture, whose elevated seat height is better suited to household tasks; and
Lit, an app that allows users to shop for food based on their medical/dietary requirements.