Sheffield Hallam graduate receives international recognition

28th November 2017

A product design graduate from Sheffield Hallam University has received an international Honourable Mention Prize - the only student in the UK to achieve the accolade.

Ciara Little, who graduated with a Product Design degree on Monday, received the honour in the Product Design category of the Taiwan International Student Design Competition - a competition which sees more than 18,000 student entries from around 70 countries across 900 universities and colleges. The Hallam student was one of just 27 entrants to receive recognition in the competition, and the only student from the UK. Ciara′s project is A/B/O: Blood Bags; a blood type specific transfusion kit designed to prevent ′never events′ - where the wrong blood type is given to a patient, which can be fatal. Ciara designed blood bags shaped like the letter corresponding to blood types A, B, O, AB, so that medical staff can quickly identify the correct bags as well as including a unique connection system which physically prevents the wrong blood type being transfused. Ciara said: "It's amazing to have received the Honourable Mention Prize, I wasn't expecting it. There are thousands of entrants in the competition so I'm really happy to have been selected as one of the winners." Professor David Swann, subject leader for product, furniture and interior, which is part of the University's Sheffield Institute of Arts, said: "Ciara's project is a simple but effective solution to potentially life-threatening incidents. We are thrilled that Ciara has received this honour, and the fact that she is the only UK student to have been successful is a wonderful achievement."