Thank you, creative entrants! It’s been a long week of deliberating over the 21 submissions we had for the 2nd Annual DiabetesMine™ Design Challenge, including participants from Canada, Iran, and the Philippines
(!)
If you recall, this competition is generously sponsored by Cory and Justin Oringer, two young brothers (ages 14 and 11, respectively) who have both been living with Type 1 diabetes for more than 10 years each, and are huge enthusiasts for design innovation in diabetes technology. Additional prize money is provided by DexCom and two other “angel investors.” On the judging panel, we’re proud to have experts from both MedGadget and IDEO design. Entrants, I believe that you have done them proud!
Drumroll, please…
First place winner in the adult category is: LOG FOR LIFE by designer and Type 1 diabetic Ethan Mullis, along with Alan Johnson of South Carolina.
It’s an online logbook for glucose, medication, carb intake, doctor’s instructions and more, that will interface with any cell phone via instant messaging (IM) and in particular with the new iPhone. Have a look for yourself:
First place winner in the under 18 category is: MAXIMUM SLIDE by Max Wieder, age 10 (diagnosed in 2007) and his friend Ben Katz, age 14, of Atlanta, Georgia.
It’s a new Pez-candy-like dispenser for glucose test strips that has a disposal container built right in. Here’s a look at the first of page of Max and Ben’s entry:
The full document can be viewed HERE.
To help further their creative efforts, winners will each receive $1,600 in cash and a two-hour workshop with health and wellness consultants from world-renown design firm IDEO to help refine their design concept. The adult winner, Alan Johnson, will also receive free access to the upcoming Health 2.0 Conference scheduled for October 21-23rd, 2008, here in San Francisco.
Congratulations, Ethan and Max!!
A special nod also to our praiseworthy Runners-Up:
DIMO METER FOR KIDS by J. Malakassiotis and J. Vekar, two “curious consumers and amateur designers” in Canada.
BREAK OFF TEST STRIPS by Thomas, age 13, a student with Type 1 diabetes from California.
DIABETES CARDS by Dr. Victor Montori, a medical professional in Minnesota.
Runners-up will each receive a very lovely DiabetesMine Tshirt in the size of their choice.
Please tune in early next week for some detailed feedback from the judges’ panel on all 21 entries. All great ideas from a great community!
Congrats to all the entrants, and to the winners! Most praiseworthy of all is Amy’s initiative in launching this initiative.
I hope the various device and software manufacturers currently in the diabetes market — and others outside of it — take note of the creativity in the community. Perhaps the folks at IDEO would like to launch a “crowdsourced” website for diabetes innovation, as a side project? Maybe a venture capital firm — like the one that’s investing $100M in iPhone applications — would be interested in some corporate philanthropy mixed with investment possibilities and sponsor the site as a year-round virtual think tank.
The first step in making new technology to serve human needs is to dream it. Thanks again, Amy, for helping everyone see the dreams.
- signed, the DiMo team
First, I really loved the entries. I’m excited to see Logs for Life later this summer. It seems like a thoughtfully designed site from the screenshots.
Second, Amy, I think you did a fantastic job with this contest and it will only grow from here. I really look forward to seeing next year’s competition. My only suggestion is to announce it at the beginning of 2009 and allow a full five months for submissions. This would give you more time to promote it and the entrants more time to develop their proposals.
Good stuff all around!
Awesome ideas love the log book that is a really great idea!
congrats to all the winners.
Jessie…
Have enjoyed your site very much and benefited from the information. Thank You….
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Congragulations to the winners.
I hope the various device and software manufacturers currently in the diabetes market — and others outside of it — take note of the creativity in the community.