Living in harmony
A device to prevent blindness, a solar energy solution for schools and an initiative to help floating villages become self-sufficient are among the winners of an award honouring ideas that create a more harmonious relationship between people, society and the environment.
The Seoul Design Awards celebrate projects which contribute to making daily life more sustainable and help build a better society through design. The 2024 Grand Prize has been awarded to a platform developed to increase eye health in low-income regions. Despite treatments being available, many people often lose their sight because of a delay in being diagnosed.
The EYELIKE Platform provides local health workers with portable digital ophthalmoscopes and diagnostic systems powered by artificial intelligence to conduct examinations. It can be attached to an upcycled smartphone and means community health professionals are able to screen for eye conditions.
Also honoured in the awards was Solar Cow, which improves access to education by providing solar energy to schools without electricity in Africa. Children are also allowed to use the solar-powered lights at home to help encourage parents to send their children to classes.
The Water Hyacinth Floating Garden won in the Creativity/Innovation category for helping improve food security and economic independence to floating villages in Cambodia.
