Universal Design Grand Challenge 2016
On Thursday 26th May 2016, students from third-level colleges across Ireland presented their design projects at the third annual Universal Design Grand Challenge Awards ceremony in the Science Gallery, 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 so smart they work for everyone”.
UDGC 2016 Winners!
WayFinder wins the UDGC People's Choice Award 2016
The People’s Choice award, which was voted on by audience members, went to Robbie Fryers and Talita Holzer Saad, from Trinity College Dublin, for their design “WayFinder” which is a navigational aid that makes safe, independent travel a possibility for all its users - including pre-teens, the elderly and those with an intellectual disability.
Pictured Above from L to R: Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority, Bill Kearney (KEYNOTE) Vice President IBM Ireland Lab, Robbie Fryers Trinity College Dublin, winner of the UDGC 2016 People’s Choice award and Jack Gregan winner of the UDGC 2015 Peoples Choice Award.
Universal Student Accommodation wins the UDGC Judges Choice - Built Environment Award 2016
The Judges Choice Award for Built Environment went to Megan Lee from Dublin institute of Technology for her design “Universal Student Accommodation”. The design is for student accommodation at the new DIT college campus in Grangegorman, Dublin and is based on the 7 principles of universal design.
Pictured above from L to R: Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority, Christopher Wallace winner of the UDGC 2014 Judges Choice and Peoples Choice Awards, Laura Magahy, Director MCO, Chair of Irish Design 2015.and Megan Lee Dublin institute of Technology, winner of The Judges Choice Award for Built Environment Category
Orb Organiser Alarm wins the UDGC Judges Choice - Products and Services Award 2016
The Judges Choice Award for Products and Services went to Greg Butler from the Dublin Institute of Technology for his design “Orb Organiser Alarm” which has the standard functions of an alarm clock with the added benefit of remote and time controlled plugs to trigger electrical devices when an alarm goes off. The product is aimed at people with limited mobility and poor organisational skills.
Pictured above from L to R: Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority, George Boyle President, Institute of Designers in Ireland, Isobella Moorehead NCAD joint winner of the UDGC 2015 Enterprise Ireland Universal Design Commercialisation Award and Greg Butler Dublin Institute of Technology, winner of The UDGC 2016 Judges Choice Award for Products and Services Category
Automatic Flood Defence Barrier wins the UDGC Judges Choice - Technology Award 2016
The Judges Choice Award for Technology went to Damien Dennehy from Cork IT for his "Automatic Flood Defence Barrier" which automatically detects and prevents flooding through standard domestic and commercial doorways. Damien also took the Enterprise Ireland “Universal Design Commercialisation Award”.
Pictured above from L to R: Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority,Damien Dennehy, Cork IT, winner of the 2016 UDGC Judges Choice Award Technology Category and also the Enterprise Ireland sponsored Universal Design Commercialization Award,David Flood - Commercialization Specialist at Enterprise Ireland
This year is the 2nd year that Enterprise Ireland sponsored The Universal Design Commericalisation Award and Damien was lucky enough also to win this category.
The Universal Design Commercialisation Award provides support to winners to receive a Commercial Case Feasibility Grant from Enterprise Ireland.
Read more about the Winners and Runners up.
Runners Up on the Night were:
Design Name: A Universal Learning Hub
Student Name: Georgina Daly
Tutor Name: Merritt Bucholz
College and Course Name:Architecture, University of Limerick
Individual or Team Entry: Individual
Design Name: Podular
Student Name: Ronan Hand
Tutor Name: Robert Simpson
College and Course Name: Product Design, Dublin institute of Technology
Individual or Team Entry: Individual
Design Name: Self-Service Plus: Assisted Automated Teller Booth
Student Name: Alan Grincell
Tutor Name: Hilary Dempsey
College and Course Name: Institute of Technology Carlow: M.A Industrial Design - Applied Research
Individual or Team Entry: Individual
Design Name: Zeus Generation 1 (ZG 1)
Student Name: Cathal Grant
Tutor Name: Cathal Nolan
College and Course Name: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechanical Engineering, IT Carlow
Individual or Team Entry: Individual
Design Name: The Wiggle Board
Student Name: Ashley Constantine, Patrick Hughes, Ailbhe Tuohy, Theo Mossop
Tutor Name: Aisling Ní Annaidh
College and Course Name: MEEN30030: Mech. Eng. Design II, UCD
Individual or Team Entry: Team Entry
Pictured above from L to R: All Finalists from UDGC 2016, Megan Lee, Robbie Fryers, Geg Butler, Damien Dennehy, Ronan Hand, Georgina Daly, Patrick Hughes, Ashley Constantine, Alan Grincell and Cathal Grant