Congratulations to Nevo Fryd and Elinor Tal from Holon Institute of Technology for this year’s winning Fix Film, Garden Tool Grip for Thala.

The Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Fixperts Award is now in it’s seventh year and the winner was announced during the prestigious awards ceremony at the RCA. Submissions came from all around the world and from a shortlist of just 15 inspiring films the RCA Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design Jury, chaired by their Director Rama Gheerawo, selected the winning project.

We’re delighted to have Holon Institute of Technology, Hosei University and RMIT University within the top three. Although the projects are very different, they each showcase a fantastic human-centred design process where they work collaboratively with the Fix Partner to create a useful object which truly benefits their daily lives.

See the winning Fixperts project and runners up below and watch the entire shortlist here.

Winner! Garden Tool Grip for Thala

11 year old Thala, lost her fingers as a result of a fire. Fixperts work with her to create a tool so that she can work independently in the garden.
Fixperts: Elinor Tal and Nevo Fryd
Fix Partner: Thala
Education Institute: Holon Institute of Technology
Country: Israel

“I think they did a great job, as trying to replicate fine motor skills of the human hand (even to a degree) is extremely difficult. They showed great user testing, included the failures in iteration, and came up with a very usable product”

Jonathan West, Research Fellow

Runner up: Picking Up Cane Tool for Keiko

Keiko has difficulty when picking up flat objects on the floor, such as coins and cards, after she had a hip replacement surgery. Fixperts from Hosei use high tech digital processes to create a tool for her to use.
Fixperts: Ryo Ushida, Yuki Matsuoka and Taiga Sanjo
Fix Partner: Keiko Matsuoka
Education Institute: Hosei University
Country: Japan

“[The project] showed an iterative design development process and feedback with Keiko throughout. [The Fixperts] produced an elegant solution not only for Keiko but one that could benefit others in their everyday lives, and was aesthetically desirable”

Gail Ramster, Senior 

Runner up: Writing Assist for Ann

Fixperts at RMIT design and make a writing implement for Ann, a retired doctor with an Essential Tremor.
Fixperts: Yechen Zhu, Junxiong Huang and Wen-Jui Chang
Fix Partner: Ann
Education Institute: RMIT University
In collaboration with: MPavilion
Country: Australia

“Simple but practical, and in an inclusive sense I can see it being of wider benefit for other people with tremors. I’ve seen similar ‘bulking out’ approaches, but this one has a stationary aesthetic, so there’s a good context fit.”