gia Excellence in Student Design

Helios is an innovative kitchen appliance designed to improve the meal reheating experience. It uses induction heating technology to provide a faster, more energy-efficient, and safer alternative to microwaves and stovetops. The product’s modular design allows users to reheat food directly in the companion food container they use for meal prep, cutting down on extra dishware and ensuring even heat distribution for better taste and texture. Targeting individuals who meal prep or seek a more reliable way to reheat food, Helios blends modern, inviting aesthetics with user-friendly features. The design incorporates durable, recyclable materials and emphasizes energy efficiency, making it both eco-friendly and built for long-term use. Overall, Helios simplifies reheating, offering a smarter, safer, and more sustainable solution for busy people who want quick, high-quality meals.

Judges’ Comments:

• Beautiful, functional design solving a real need
• Excellent user research and clear design journey
• Strong market awareness and real-world potential

Clean is a specialized disposal and storage system designed for seniors managing incontinence. It combines effective odor control with easy access to clean products and a hygienic disposal method for used items. The product consists of an airtight trash can and a caddy with a spring-loaded disposal chute, ensuring a more organized, discreet, and comfortable changing process. Made from durable materials like polypropylene plastic and silicone, Clean is both functional and easy to use, with a focus on independence and hygiene. It’s ideal for seniors but could also serve other users, such as women managing period products. Clean offers a unique solution by bridging the gap between trash storage and product organization, addressing common challenges in managing incontinence care at home.

Judges’ Comments:

• Smart design for mobility and accessibility
• Research-driven, practical solutions like foot support
• Strong storytelling and prototype feedback

Nimbus is an electric mop with self-cleaning and self-refilling features, eliminating refills and measuring. Its ergonomic, water-resistant design suits all ages, including seniors. Key features include automatic rinsing, a cleaning concentrate dispenser, and durable components that reduce waste. Ideal for busy individuals and families, Nimbus offers an efficient, eco-friendly, and affordable solution for a clean home.

Judges’ comments:

• Thorough process and compelling design
• Strong user-centered research solutions
• Clean, focused presentation

Pail is a compact, hard-shell lunchbox designed to fit in a backpack’s water bottle pocket. It includes three food containers, silicone insulation, and a bamboo lid that doubles as a plate. With durable materials and a secure strap closure, Pail offers a practical, stylish, and portable food storage solution, ideal for busy college students.

Judges’ Comments:

• Unique, practical solution with strong attention to detail
• Well-researched and tested with great prototyping
• Clean, professional, and engaging presentation

SONA provides a faster, safer and more controlled method to thaw your frozen meats, poultry or fish with the use of ultrasound assisted technology. SONA works by sending out high-frequency sound waves above the human hearing spectrum known as ultrasound. These sound waves create tiny vibrations in the frozen food item. As the vibrations travel through the frozen item, they generate heat; this heat gradually thaws and melts the ice crystals. What makes ultrasonic thawing better than the more traditional methods is its ability to thaw uniformly and quickly while being very energy efficient. Ultrasound has been used and known since the 1960s but only recently has been tested for its thawing capabilities.

Judges’ Comments:

• High design
• Technology could work, well-researched
  
• Very pleasing and understandable design presentation
  

Ease is a dual-purpose lamp intended to bring the simplistic and medical-inspired light therapy market into a whole new view. The lamp consists of a charging base and therapy light that can easily be brought into any space. The shade uses existing technology currently applied in the market. A high-lumen LED strip is placed on the edge of the inside of the light with a reflective plastic sheet underneath. A thicker piece of plastic with small white dots is placed on top of that to help disburse the light evenly across the opaque/frosted plastic shade. The base of the lamp uses a USB-C connection to a wall outlet to power itself. The lamp is controlled by a single knob to turn on/off as well as adjust the light intensity. The wireless lamp allows users to bring their therapy anywhere. Ease brings a new, more comfortable flow to a user's SAD treatment. One that is designed to reflect them.

Judges’ Comments:

• Solves an important topic
  
• The research is valid and appeals to a large population
  
• Excellent visual communication and very thoughtful design language
  

Swishy provides a simple and entertaining way for children to visualize their mouths as they brush their teeth. Children watch Swishy’s lights change color to signify where they should brush next, ensuring they reach every side of every tooth. Children aged 3 through 6 have not yet honed in on their ability to remain on task, weigh cause and effect or think abstractly. Thus, Swishy not only helps children improve their dental hygiene, but it allows parents to take a step back and, like their child, build self-sufficiency.

Judges’ comments:

• Great process, lovely layout, compelling solution
  
• Good ideation
  
• Wonderful observational research
  

Rain Recyle is a rain funnel that captures rainfall and diverts it directly into a storage tank below. Homeowners, especially urban dwellers, do not have a way to capture or store rainwater.

Judges’ Comments:

• Clean clear and direct
  
• Brilliant take on a hidden user need
  
• Simplicity of design shows tremendous sensitivity to manufacturing requirements and needs of the user