Mexar Vapor
Project Overview
University
Year
About
Extreme heat places outdoor and industrial workers at risk of heat illness, lost income and reduced ability to work safely. Mexar Vapor is an active cooling device worn around the neck, where it lowers skin temperature and helps reduce heat strain during physically demanding work. An accompanying monitoring system provides real-time safety alerts and allows employers to monitor workers’ heat exposure. Tested with construction workers in hot and humid conditions, the system could reduce the risk of heat-related illness while supporting safer, more productive workplaces.
Team
Christopher Chong
I am a product design engineer with years of professional work experience across consumer products, aviation and architecture. My expertise spans industrial design skills such as user research, co-design, sketching and visualization, to engineering skills such as design for manufacturing, quality control and advanced fabrication. My role as a founder has also given me valuable experience in management, supply chain, intellectual property and more.
Roland Washington
Roland Washington is the founder of Mexar and an award-winning designer and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in product and brand design, as well as medical device development and commercialization. A third-time founder, he has worked with global organizations including the United Nations. Roland holds an MS in Integrated Product Design from the University of Pennsylvania and a background in Biology and Chemistry. His work bridges design, science, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on developing technologies that improve human health and resilience. He is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow and a 2024 MUSE Design Award recipient.