Grace Portus named winner of the New Designers Joseph Stannah Award 2024 for inclusive design

Sheffield Hallam University Product Design student, Grace Portus, has been awarded the Joseph Stannah Award at this year’s New Designers exhibition for her innovative garment, Thread.

World-leading British lifts engineering company Stannah has supported New Designers since 2019, recognising outstanding design work that promotes independent living. The award was presented at the Business Design Centre in Islington, where over 3,000 graduates showcased their projects. Grace received a £1,000 prize to support her design career.

Inspired by her grandmother’s experiences with mobility challenges, Thread is a practical garment designed to assist elderly users in carrying essential items around the home. The design features five customisable pockets and a loop to hold objects such as mugs and keys. Made from 100% wool felt, the garment is secured with a magnetic strap and incorporates a placement system inspired by the British Army’s Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) mechanism, ensuring ease of use and features iconography to guide placement.

Stannah’s Innovation and Design Manager, Max Woodhams, served as a judge for the award and praised Grace’s project. “Grace created a great final product and showed an impressive journey to get to the solution,” he noted. “Her work stood out for its thoughtful design and commitment to customer needs, which is exactly the kind of creative problem-solving we seek to support through the Joseph Stannah Award.”

Grace commented: “Winning this award from Stannah is an incredible honour. My grandma’s struggles inspired me to develop Thread, a design that provides practical support and encourages independence in daily tasks.”

The 2024 New Designers exhibition attracted over 12,000 attendees and featured the work of more than 2,500 graduates across design fields. The Joseph Stannah Award reflects Stannah’s longstanding commitment to fostering innovation in design and engineering. By supporting New Designers, the company continues to champion fresh ideas that improve lives through thoughtful, practical design.

Judges: Sam Gaze, Max Woodhams

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New Designers 2024 Joseph Stannah Award winner Grace Portus

New Designers 2024 Joseph Stannah Award winner Grace Portus with her design Thread