As in all previous editions of the Global Grad Show, shortlisted graduates this year demonstrate that they are ready to answer some of the most urgent questions in areas such as healthcare, design, architecture, nutrition and ethics. Discover their top priorities and solutions, as they respond with great speed and empathy to an unpredictable world that too often feels like we are running on ‘emergency mode’.
Home testing device to monitor the spread of infectious diseases and protect health workers
École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle (ENSCI)
A new design to raise awareness of thermal contraception for men
Improving the reliability and security of 5G telecommunication networks
Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
A trap allowing the study of highly resistant mosquitoes causing Dengue fever
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
A digital assistant helping to track and manage our online data and protect our privacy
Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
Breath analysis device to support early detection of illness at home
An interactive toolkit for schoolchildren to learn about traffic safety
Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI)
Pioneering fresh spirulina market in the Gulf region
A personal scanner allowing early remote diagnosis of skin diseases
Integrating food and agricultural practices in to city infrastructure
An adaptable hospital gown that allows medical examinations whilst maintaining patients’ dignity
"Climate, Wildlife and Nature",Water and Sanitation
Biodegradable technology to slow the rapid advance of desertification
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
A magnetic skin allowing quadriplegics to move around
ECAL, Lausanne University of Art and Design
A portable and adaptable baby nest made from safe biomaterials
Technical university in Liberec
Developing architectural components based on biomaterials generated by bacterial growth
Escuela de Comunicación Mónica Herrera
An interactive programme to raise awareness of the importance of bees in our ecosystem
Howest, de Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (HOWEST)
Long lasting baby shoes that grow along with their feet
Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków
A communication system connecting parents with premature children in incubators
PXL – MAD School of Arts Hasselt
Emoticons reinvented in Braille language to expand expressive possibilities for the visually impaired
A wearer-centric process to support manufacture of bras for all body shapes and sizes
Rochester Institute of Technology
A system to hold wiring and tubing together, improving the safety of surgical environments
A microfibre-based filtration system to tackle marine pollution
A sustainable solution for community-driven food production using and sharing native seeds
Integrated platform making food banks more efficient, connecting donors and those in need
The Oslo School of Architecture and Design
A digital platform to encourage community participation in city planning
A platform for cultural institutions to engage audiences and enable them to generate content
A marine robot supporting the regeneration of coral reefs
Rizal Technological University
Portable thermal camera transforming smartphones into fever detectors
Providence College of Engineering
Using gaming and blockchain to independently verify the authenticity and safety of drugs
Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building
Jacket pockets with integrated UV light sterilisation, for easy hands sanitation
As the world faces an unprecedented health crisis, the efficiency and reach of global healthcare systems have been tested to their limits and beyond. The COVID-19 pandemic unveiled structural shortcomings in healthcare provision that some of the best 2021 pro-jects are addressing with innovative healthcare access solutions.
Ongoing debates around gender, diversity and inclusivity have highlighted inequalities that need to be urgently addressed at all levels of society. Many graduates around the world this year, presented projects directly addressing such inequalities and proposed creative ways to overcome them.
Our experiences of connecting with others are deeply affected by our abilities and by our ‘place’ in society, especially if we live with a disability. Projects in this group show us how technology can break barriers and help to support the most vulnerable so that their opportunities are not limited.
As cities continue to grow in size and density, our urban experience presents us constantly with new challenges affecting our health and living standards. Projects in this group demonstrate that urban growth can take a more sustainable direction, and that the tech-nology to achieve that is here.
The global waste crisis is far from over. Whilst new recycling solutions are developed, humanity’s ability to generate millions of tons of litter remains largely unaffected. Our shortlisted graduates are rethinking entirely the design of products and services, with waste reduction in mind from the start.
We are what we eat. Not simply by virtue of our individual choices, but also as customers of a global food industry that leaves a significant mark on Earth. Shortlisted projects for this edition invite us to rethink our individual and collective eating habits.
