A Bold Notion: Designing for Real-World Health Challenges
The James Dyson Award 2025 shines a light on designers who translate ideas into practical devices, services, and systems. Two young women, from diverse backgrounds, have taken on health challenges that affect millions worldwide: diabetes management and cervical cancer screening. They aren’t doctors and haven’t spent years in laboratories, but their work demonstrates how fresh perspectives can drive real impact.
Meet the Trailblazers
From different paths, the two innovators collaborated on health-tech concepts that prioritize accessibility, affordability, and everyday use. Their goal is simple: remove barriers that keep people from managing chronic conditions or getting screened for cervical cancer, especially in underserved communities.
Two Solutions Targeting Big Pain Points
Diabetes: A Low-Cost, User-Friendly Management Tool
The diabetes project aims to lower the barriers to monitoring and decision-making. By combining affordable hardware, a smartphone app, and clear educational guidance, the design helps people track glucose trends, set reminders, and understand what the data means for daily routines. The team emphasizes privacy, battery life, and ease of use so that families can manage diabetes without constant clinical support.
Cervical Cancer: Accessible Screening at Home or Community Clinics
The cervical cancer concept seeks to democratize screening through a low-cost, user-friendly approach suitable for low-resource settings. Potential features include self-collection testing workflows, intuitive instructions, and a pathway to ensure results are followed up with clinicians. The aim is to increase screening uptake, reduce delays, and connect users with care more efficiently.
From Concept to Impact
Why do these ideas matter? Diabetes and cervical cancer rank high among global health challenges, imposing financial, emotional, and logistical burdens on individuals and health systems. These designs prioritize: affordability, portability, and scalability; empathy for users who may have limited access to care; and the ability to integrate with existing digital ecosystems. If successful, they could improve adherence to treatment plans, shorten the time between early detection and treatment, and ultimately save lives.
Why the Dyson Award Matters for Women in STEM
More than a trophy, the Dyson Award highlights how young women are reshaping health tech through design thinking. By focusing on human-centered solutions, Chan and Jain embody a movement toward inclusive innovation where female designers lead solutions that address inequities in care. The judges’ recognition sends a message: you don’t need a PhD to create change—curiosity, collaboration, and a customer-first approach can spark breakthrough ideas.
What’s Next
As the projects move from concept to prototype, the duo will likely seek partnerships with health providers, device manufacturers, and policymakers to test, refine, and scale. The James Dyson Award continues to serve as a launching pad for ideas that balance form, function, and real-world outcomes, proving that the best solutions come from listening to people who live with the problem every day.
