Designer wins national award

DESIGNS for a wearable cooling device to help women who experience the discomfort of hot flushes during menopause won its creator an award.

Olivia Latham, a Northumbria University student from Wymeswold, was named winner of the Joseph Stannah Award at New Designers 2021.

Meno II, which is about the size of a matchbox, can be kept in a handbag or at a desk and placed on key points around the body such as the wrist or the back of the neck to bring cooling relief. Alternatively, it can be worn in a special vest.

Ross Pascoe, chief technology and design officer at Stannah and chair, said: “We felt Olivia was a deserving winner, demonstrating a strong research and insights driven process and a detailed understanding of the issues.”

Olivia said: “I ensured throughout the project I was getting validation from women who are experiencing, or who have experienced, menopause. 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 awareness.”