The University of Johannesburg (UJ) students have taken top honours at a prestigious international design competition in Texas, winning first place and first runner-up with innovations that address critical health challenges faced by mothers and children worldwide.
The AAKRUTI Global 2025 competition, held from 1–4 February 2026, brought together student innovators from across the globe to tackle real-world problems through technology-enabled solutions aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the international field, UJ’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) stood out with two projects grounded in empathy, accessibility, and human-centred design.
First Place: Latch — A pedal-powered solution for mothers
The winning project came from an all-female, interdepartmental team participating in UJ’s Wom+n in Tech (WiT) initiative. Honours students Rethabile Mosia (Industrial Design), Lerato Matobako (Multimedia Design), Courtney Hodgson and Tyesha Billett (both Graphic Design) developed Latch, a breast pump that operates without electricity.
“Imagine being a new mother in a township in South Africa or a rural village in India,” the team explains. “Your baby won’t latch, you only have a glass jar, and the electricity cuts out again. That’s the reality Latch was designed to change.”
The device uses a foot-pedal mechanism, eliminating the need for electricity while reducing the physical strain of manual pumps. Its universal flexible lid works with standard bottles, jars, and reusable containers—removing the expense and waste of proprietary equipment.
Because it’s fully reusable and sterilizable, Latch significantly lowers production costs while supporting environmental sustainability. The design directly addresses challenges faced daily by millions of mothers in rural and low-resource communities.
The project aligns with three UN Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).
Two members of the Latch team travelled to Texas to present their solution at the international finals, competing alongside innovators from institutions worldwide.
First Runner-Up: Dr Bou — Reducing children’s fear of injections
The second-place honour went to third-year Industrial Design students Dawson Thornton-Dibb, Ashwan Steyn, Celine Kruger, and Bokang Matloa for Dr Bou—a wearable, octopus-shaped device that helps manage children’s fear and anxiety during injections.
Using cold and vibration therapy, Dr Bou offers a gentle, non-invasive approach to pain management. Designed for clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and home vaccination settings, the device demonstrates how child-centred, empathetic design can transform healthcare experiences.
The project supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by prioritizing emotional wellbeing and healthcare accessibility for young patients.
Design rooted in empathy and impact
Both winning projects were mentored by Industrial Design lecturers Ashton Moseley and Pia Findlay, who guided students in translating complex social challenges into tangible, responsible design solutions.
“These students have shown that when design is rooted in empathy and inclusivity, it can deliver meaningful global impact,” said the FADA team.
The achievements highlight FADA’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and socially responsive design. They also underscore the value of UJ’s Wom+n in Tech initiative, which actively promotes women’s participation and leadership in technology-driven fields—a mission powerfully demonstrated by the all-female Latch team’s victory on the global stage.
By addressing maternal wellbeing, healthcare access, and childhood medical anxiety, UJ students have affirmed the university’s place as a leader in future-focused innovation with real-world impact.
