Olivia picks up top award for her design
A final year Northumbria University student has won the Joseph Stannah Award for creating a device that aids women during menopause.
Olivia Latham, of Wymeswold, presented the Meno II at the launch of New Designers 2021 in Andover, where she was named the winner.
The Meno II is a portable or wearable cooling device that helps women in the workplace who experience the discomfort of hot flushes during menopause.
The small, chargeable device, about the size of a matchbox, can be kept in a handbag or at a desk and can then be placed on key points around the body such as the wrist or the back of the neck to bring cooling relief.
Alternatively, the Meno II can be worn in a special vest that holds the device at the base of the neck and offers discreet, accessible controls at the front.
New Designers is the UK’s leading graduate design show, which brings together the best emerging talent from around the country to connect and celebrate the future of design.
With the Joseph Stannah Award in its third year, 26 talented young graduates made submissions.
Ross Pascoe, Chief Technology and Design Officer at Stannah and chair of the Stannah judging panel, said: “We were incredibly impressed with the quality of entries, and it took some discussion to narrow the field down.
“We felt that Olivia was a deserving winner, demonstrating strong research and insight-driven process and a detailed understanding of the issues.” The Joseph Stannah Award offers a £1,000 prize to support the winner’s career and the opportunity to take up to a six-week paid placement in the Stannah design office in Andover, Hampshire.
Olivia said: “Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I ensured throughout the project I was getting validation from women who are experiencing, or who have experienced, menopause.
“Having the concept backed up and supported by potential users was essential, but winning enforces the design credibility.
“Supporting menopausal women is a topic I have become really passionate about throughout the project, and it’s amazing that it is getting the recognition it deserves.
“The project started as a conversation piece, aiming to bring awareness to a taboo subject, and the Stannah award has enabled me to further spread this awareness to a wider audience.”