Inspired Designs Win Coresteel South Canterbury Innovation Award

An innovative tracking device for dementia sufferers was the winning project for the 2017 Coresteel South Canterbury Innovation Award.

This is the second year that Coresteel South Canterbury has offered the award to Year 12 and 13 students from Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru.

The award is part of a national initiative which recognises the achievements of a student who has demonstrated excellence in innovation.

“Winner Jess Coleman’s creative ideas, practical problem solving and thought behind her design made her entry stand out,” says Heather Harding, Marketing Manager, Coresteel South Canterbury.

Each of the six entrants submitted an innovative design project which has formed part of their school assessment for graphic design. The entrants took part in an Innovation Tour of local businesses as part of the selection process.

“Jess’s high level of participation on the Innovation Tour and an excellent interview cemented her place as a deserving winner of this prestigious award,” says Harding.

A runner-up award was presented to Lisa Ou, who designed a wearable asthma inhaler for athletes. The inhaler included features such as a heart rate monitor. “Lisa showed impressive attention to detail and innovative practical design ideas.”

In recognition of Lisa’s passion for architectural design, Coresteel South Canterbury arranged a personal tutorial for

her with John Rushton of Rushton Architects, whose work it was that first sparked Lisa’s interest in architecture.

Harding says it’s been great to work with the school to refine the award process and she hopes to include other local schools in the competition next year.

“This initiative has certainly helped our girls think about how they design for people and how they can contextualise what they are learning. I look forward to being part of it as it grows,” says HOD Technology, Craighead Diocesan School.