Fixperts Awards shortlist 2026
The Helen Hamlyn Center for Design Fixperts Award jury have a great selection to choose from this year. As champions of human-centred design and inclusivity they will have the task of choosing not one, but two, winners from the wonderful submissions. This year the RCA Fixperts partnership welcomes a new award dedicated to the visionary and pioneering Inclusive Design champion Professor Julia Cassim.
We are delighted to share the entries listed below. The HHCD RCA judges who review the shortlist, will be looking for projects that demonstrate benefit for the Fix Partners, ingenious problem solving, an iterative design process, quality of prototyping and engaging storytelling. Of particular interest are those that focused on independence, health, and social benefit. The Julia Cassim Award will in addition celebrate respectful relationships and co-creation.
Good luck to the jury, they have their work cut out! and big congratulations and thank you to all of the inspiring Fixperts projects that took place this year around the world, some for universities running the programme for the fitrs time while other are in their 12th year. Special congratulations to those that made it on to the 12 strong shortlist.
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The shortlist selection will also be available to view on our Youtube channel in a dedicated playlist. Winners will announced at the Helen Hamlyn Design Awards Ceremony, held at the prestigious RCA, Battersea Campus, during the INCLUDE London 2026 conference, on the evening of 10 Sept 2026.
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Prosthetic Leg Cover for Karen
(online as Fixfilm | Mark and Wyna)
Silline (pronounced “sil-line”) Combines silhouette and line. We designed Silline for Karen, an above-the-knee-amputee since 2009. This custom prosthetic leg cover straps around her prosthesis, allowing her to wear leggings and pants seamlessly, without fabric catching or bunching. Fit precisely to match her real leg, Silline blends function, comfort, and confidence into Karen’s everyday wear.
Fixperts: Mark Dockery and Wyna Meewisse with Fix Partner: Karen King
Fixperts Tutors: Muireann McMahon and Vipul Vinzuda
Education institute University of Limerick, Ireland.
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An Ergonomic Pen for Maebh
Meet our Fix Partner Maebh! Maebh has cerebral palsy and experiences hand cramps when writing for long periods of time. Working closely with Maebh, we created an ergonomic pen to help reduce her cramping.
Fixperts: Hazel Butler and Laragh Frawley with Fix Partner: Maebh
Fixperts Tutors: Muireann McMahon and Vipul Vinzuda
Education institute: University of Limerick, Product Design and Technology, Ireland.
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A custom walking aid for Phyllis
Working closely with Phyllis, CSM Fixperts designed a bespoke walking stick that was more comfortable to use and better reflected her personal style. Together, they created a thoughtful design with a new hook handle that made the walking stick less likely to fall over, improving both its practicality and her everyday experience.
Fixperts: Timmy Chung, Jonas Greve, Yiran Li, Amber Mordaunt-Smith, Zhengouyang Pan and Yiwen Sun with Fix Partner: Phyllis at Centre 404
Fixperts tutors: James Carrigan, Sarita Wilkinson and Alexandra Cleator.
Education Institute: Central Saint Martins (CSM), University of the Arts London (UAL), England
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Mind the Yap, A Communication Game
Working closely with Edward, CSM Fixperts developed a bespoke board game called Mind the Yap inspired by his life story and interests. Together, they created a playful way for people to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build confidence through conversation, encouraging others to learn from Edward’s journey and from each other.
Fixperts: April Clough, Diana Osisigu Ndubuisi, Brook Shields, Yang Song, Zhixuan Zhou, Talia Stollman with Fix Partner: Edward at Centre 404
Fixperts tutors: James Carrigan, Sarita Wilkinson and Thomas Wagner.
Education Institute: Central Saint Martins (CSM), University of the Arts London (UAL), England
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Yarin’s blowing trainer
As part of a Fixperts course at HIT, an industrial design students, Ori and Noga, developed a Blowing Trainer for Yarin, an 11-year-old living with developmental delay, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Yarin needs to practice controlled exhalation to strengthen his oral muscles as part of learning to speak, the device was designed to support proper posture with a chin-rest and hand-grips, and to enable safer, more independent breathing practice with less hands-on assistance. To prevent biting or and safe use the design also include custom straws with a built-in mouth stop, and different mouthpiece or whistle attachments for varied exercises.
Fixperts: Ori David and Noga Tsoor with Fix Partner: Yarin Moseri.
Fixperts Tutors: Prof. Gad Charny and Katie Levine.
Education institute: Holon Institute of Technology, School of Design, Israel.
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Hear to help Maria
Our Fix Partner Maria is Caoimhe’s Mom and suffers with hearing loss in her left ear due to tinnitus. After wearing a hearing aid for 3 years she ran into a few issues. The main issue she discussed with us was the dome of the hearing aid was the incorrect fit and she was constantly adjusting it throughout the day. Other minor issues she mentioned was moisture build up on the back of the ear where the hearing aid sits. We designed and injection moulded a new dome out of skin save silicone to suit her ear and fit preferences, as well as a moisture sleeve. She was delighted with the new dome fit and sleeve and we were proud to see our design have a positive impact on Maria’s life.
Fixperts: Rowan Whitley and Caoimhe Barrett with Fix Partner, Maria Barrett
Fixperts Tutors: Muireann McMahon and Vipul Vinzuda
Education institute: University of Limerick, Ireland.
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Film Gripper for Hideko
Hideko struggles to peel back films on wet wipes and convenient ready-meal packages due to finger pain from Heberden’s nodes. The Fixperts team worked with her to design a non-slip assist tool allowing her to effortlessly open tight packaging with minimal force, bringing comfort and ease back to her daily life.
Fixperts: Sota Sugiyama, Rei Tsuge and Naoya Yamazaki with Fix Partner: Hideko Fukagawa
Fixperts Tutors: Professor Shin Azumi, Hidehiko Miura, Yuichi Hattori, Midori Saito
Education Institute: Hosei University
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Ziv’s Bicycle
As part of a Fixpert course at HIT, industrial design students Shai Shinfeld and Roi Apter designed adaptive bicycle attachments for Ziv, a five-year-old boy with hypertonia in his left limbs. The team’s focus was to help Ziv gain an independent, confident and enjoyable bicycle riding experience. The project features an adjustable pedal add-on that provides an easy, intuitive mount and steady grip to keep Ziv’s foot secure, while allowing a quick-release for safety, alongside a handlebar extension that brings the grip closer to his body for better control. By addressing these specific ergonomic challenges, the attachments eliminate the need for constant adult assistance, turning Ziv’s riding experience into a continuous, safe, and joyful journey.
Fixperts: Shai Shinfeld and Roi Apter with Fix Partner: Ziv
Fixperts Tutors: Professor Gad Charny and Katie Levine
Education Institute: Holon Institute of Technology, School of Design, Israel
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Armrest Jewelry Box for Kazue
Kazue, 78, loves fashion, but age-related finger stiffness has made it difficult to put on earrings. Through testing, the Fixperts team found that supporting her elbow improved fingertip stability. They designed a compact elbow rest with a small tray for her jewellery, allowing her to wear earrings more comfortably and continue expressing her personal style.
Fixperts: Haruka Iwazumi, Yumi Sekiguchi and Rinka Yoshitake with Fix Partner: Kazue Yoshimoto
Fixperts Tutors: Professor Shin Azumi, Hidehiko Miura, Yuichi Hattori, Midori Saito
Education Institute: Hosei University
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Antony’s Accordion
Antony is a piano accordion player, his performance accordion is heavy and causes him pain when he plays as he needs to rest it on his the legs. Our solution was shifting the weight to a floor stand he can position between his legs and which allows him to move while playing.
Fixperts: Sonny (Samson) Bull, Johnny Callaghan, Jack Boyle, Bumi-Abba Suleiman Kwande with Fix Partner: Antony Boyle
Fixperts Tutors: Ben Sugarman-Clarke and James Tooze.
Education Institute: University of Brighton, Product Design, United Kingdom
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Katie in the community
Katie is currently studying at University of Brighton. Part of her course includes helping elderly people complete daily tasks such as moving to bathroom getting changed.
She has scoliosis and struggles to complete the 12 hr days as this can affect her back and can create a lot of pain. She has a 30 min break during a 12 hr shift and most of the time she will spend it in her car. During her shift as the muscles in her back fatigue. Katie has tried a back brace but the main issue with that is that it restricted her movement and made it harder to complete tasks and to move around. She wanted something that could help support, relieve pain and improve her rest whilst sitting in her car.
Fixperts: Isadora Clay, Tom Robins, Freya Peterson with Fix Partner: Katie Grillo.
Fixperts Tutors: Ben Sugarman-Clarke and James Tooze.
Education Institute: University of Brighton, Product Design, United Kingdom.
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A vacuum cleaner modification for Ilona
Following a rare stroke, Ilona lives with leg spasms, hip pain, and foot drop. Working closely with her, the CSM Fixperts adapted her vacuum cleaner so she can vacuum independently from her wheelchair.
Fixperts: Lucia Yang, Zainab Lawal, Harley Zheng, Zuofan Jiang and Yunsheng Chen with ix Partner: Ilona at Islington Outlook
Fixperts tutors: Adrian Allen, James Carrigan and Sarita Wilkinson.
Education Institute: Central Saint Martins (CSM), University of the Arts London (UAL), England.
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