What a year! New universities take up Fixperts in 2025.

The Helen Hamlyn Center for Design Fixperts Award jury will have a joyful challenge this year. As champions of human-centred design and inclusivity they will have the task of choosing winners from an impressive shortlist. This year Fixperts projects took place around the world including in new communities in Perth, Australia; Limerick, Ireland; Tokyo, Japan; Krakow, Poland alongside, Brighton, London and Loughborough in the UK.

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We are delighted to share the entries listed below. The HHCD RCA judges who review the shortlist, will be looking for projects that demonstrate a good exchange with 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.

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 and especially to those that made it on to the shortlist.

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The shortlist selection can also be viewed 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 in London on the evening of Tuesday 30 Sept 2025.

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Parasol holder for Masako

80-year-old Masako no longer feels safe holding the parasol she loves because she fears having her hands full if she falls. The Fixperts team worked with her to design a secure and stylish hands-free holder allowing her to comfortably continue to use it out on walks.

Fixperts: Kaho Shinoda, Haruto Takeuchi, Yurika Masuda, Haruna Yamamura with Fix Partner: Masako Kamataki

Fixperts Tutors: Prof. Shin Azumi, Hidehiko Miura, Kohei Marufuji, Yuichi Hattori

Education institute: HOSEI University, Faculty of Engineering & Design, Tokyo, Japan

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Sophie’s Knife Guard

Sophie, who is visually impaired, feels anxious using knives in the kitchen and often resorts to buying pre-cut fruit and veg – something she doesn’t like due to sustainability concerns. The Fixperts team designed a custom finger guard to help her feel secure and comfortable preparing food, and happily reduce her use of single-use plastics.

Fixperts: Yuna Shum, Callum Smith, King Chow, Orpheus Kalavana Georgiou, Jadyn Foong, Jiayu Jin with Fix Partner: Sophie Brudenall

Fixperts tutor: Tom Higgs

Education Institute: Brunel University of London, London, England

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Kindness on the Rise

Since undergoing double knee surgery, Irene worries about going up and down steps safely, especially the ones leading to her beloved garden. The Fixperts built her a custom access ramp to make sure she can confidently move around.

Fixperts: Alex, Will, Samson with Fix Partner: Irene

Fixperts Tutor: James Tooze

Education institute: University of Brighton, Brighton, England

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Helping Gran

(Online as: Fixperts Helping Gran, Zack & Maria)

Mabel, who had her toes amputated, struggles with walking and balance. Temporary solutions have been painful and unreliable, so the Fixperts Maria and Zack prototyped a more comfortable permanent solution that Mabel can use throughout her day to day life.

Fixperts: Maria Kazimierzak, Zack Daly With Fix Partner: Mabel

Fixperts Tutor: Muireann McMahon

Institute: University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

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Sidecase for Sharon

Sharon’s cerebral palsy means she uses a wheelchair to get around, combined with her mobility issues, she has difficulties carrying her belongings to and from lessons. Looking to improve on commercial solutions for this, the Fixperts team designed a sidecase tailored to her laptop, cup and headphones, allowing her to move independently between classes.

Fixperts: Ali, Ollie, Holly, Pascal with Fix Partner: Sharon

Fixperts Tutors: Emilene Zitkus, Eliane Wong and Sharon Cook

Education Institute: Loughborough University, Loughborough, England

Typing Tools for Yoni

(online as Assistive Typing Tools for Amputated Fingers)

Yoni works in high-tech, but his amputated fingers make it difficult for him to type. Fixperts Roei and Shir prototyped assistive fingertip tools to make his typing more fluent and comfortable.

Link to film: 

Fixperts: Roei Weiman, Shir Segev with Fixpartner: Yoni Renov

Fixperts tutors: Dana Yichye Shwachman, Prof. Gad Charny

Education institute: Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, Israel

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Locator for Maciek

Maciek, who is blind, often struggles to find his cane, both at home and in public spaces. Working with technology that Maciek already knows, the Fixperts team designed an easy to use airtag attachment to help him quickly locate his cane with minimal stress.

Fixperts: Zofia Biedzka, Igor Budzowski, Tycjan Twardowski, Gloria Wardzała-Deshmukh

Fixperts Tutor: Joanna Krokosz
Education Institute: Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, Krakow, Poland.

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Insole for Jaume

(online as: Fixperts Ortesi Plantar)

Jaume has one leg longer than the other, and this makes it difficult to walk around and climb stairs. The Fixperts team prototyped, tested a bespoke insole that helps him walk in comfort.

Fixperts: Hèctor Carrera, Jordi Mayimi, Jan Gómez, Joan Ferrer with Fixpartner: Jaume Ferrer

Fixperts tutor: Aiona Abella

Education institute: ELISAVA, Barcelona, Spain

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Stroller Connector for Ola

(Online as: Parenting with Independence)

Ola is expecting a baby, but her wheelchair will make it difficult to push a stroller. Fixperts Tamir and Nimrod prototyped and tested a neat and effective tool to connect her chair to the stroller, allowing her to parent comfortably and independently. 

Fixperts: Tamir Keidar, Nimrod Shani with Fix Partner: Ola Melamed Mayer

Fixperts tutors: Prof. Gad Charny, Dana Yichye Shwachman

Education institute: Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, Israel

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Josh’s House Keys

(Online as: Inclusive Design | Fixperts project)

Film student Josh has Autism Spectrum Disorder and often forgets his house keys. The Fixperts team worked with him to develop not just a stylish product but also a routine that helps him to keep his keys safe. All involved learnt that understanding and guiding behavior is a significant part of a design.

Fixperts: Ben, Charlotte, Lily, Ayo, Amy with Fix Partner: Josh

Fixperts Tutors: Emilene Zitkus, Eliane Wong and Sharon Cook

Education institute: Loughborough University, Loughborough, England

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Key Rack for Mona

(​​Online as: Fixpert project: 3 weeks to improve a life)

Mona lives alone in a big house, and her dementia can make it difficult to keep her many house keys organised, often losing them. Fixperts Jesse and Owen designed a simple to use key rack system that makes each of the keys easy to tell apart and return to their proper place. 

Fixperts: Jesse, Owen with Fix Partner: Mona McNamara

Fixperts Tutor: Muireann McMahon

Education institute: University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

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A Desk for Ayako

Ayako’s room is too small to fit a desk, and at 89 it’s uncomfortable for her to write while leaning on her lap as she does now. The Fixperts team prototyped and created a portable mini desk for her to place on her lap, making writing much more pleasurable for her once more.

Fixperts: Aoto Shoji, Kasumi Aoshima, Towa Wakamatsu with Fixpartner: Ayako Mitsuyuki

Fixperts Tutors: Prof. Shin Azumi, Hidehiko Miura, Kohei Marufuji, Yuichi Hattori

Education Institute: HOSEI University, Faculty of Engineering & Design, Tokyo, Japan