Since 2018 Affa Sair has been invited to work on projects with the Glasgow School of Art’s Innovation School Highland Campus near Forres.
The Innovation School is a leading centre for design teaching that applies Design Innovation to the key issues defining contemporary society. We examine design’s role as a catalyst for positive change, and investigate its potential impact on people and places.
The students, faculty and researchers adopt a human-centred, research-driven design approach as they explore the “near future” and “next now” in search of actionable innovations. They challenge traditional perceptions of design, and promote new ways of thinking, doing and designing, which they apply in diverse and complex real-world contexts.
Students at the campuses in Glasgow and the Highlands have access to dedicated teaching staff and outstanding facilities. Live projects provide opportunities to engage with businesses, communities and the public sector, while workshops and exchange programmes with international partners enhance the Innovation School’s global outlook.
2022/23
2020/21
2018/19
“Daily Ease” Device and App
Animated graphic of Daily Ease Device
A group of students we had a great deal of interaction with - Lexie, Ciel, Nia, Lara and designed a device which can be used as a way for patients to record their pain levels and other emotions.
The device allows the data to be uploaded directly to clinicians so that consultations can be more efficient. The device allowed patients to record their pain levels using pressure sensors. The higher the pain levels, the greater pressure the patient put on the device.
The pain levels could also be recorded in different layers of the body, skin, muscle, organs and skeleton.
This innovative device lends itself very well to being developed into an app.
Various doctors, clinicians and Affa Sair members were consulted in the project.
The students demonstrated a prototype of the device to Affa Sair Chairman, Chris Bridgford.
We were delighted to learn in January 2024 that the students had been nominated for a global design award from UX Design Awards. Established in 2015 the awards foster the impact experience design has on shaping our lives, products and services.
The UX Design Awards present great experiences and accomplished solutions across all fields and industries worldwide twice per year.
Working with the students was one of the best things about last year. They were incredibly inspiring and so respectful and interested in Affa Sair and what we do. We hope we are able to continue to work with a new batch of students
Reminder Device
A second group of students Jianhui Tan, Yuzhe Tu, Jiaqi Xie, Zijing Zhang and Yifei Liu produced a device intended for people with invisible illnesses like chronic pain. This device acted as an easy to set-up reminder system. It allowed the user to listen to their own voice giving them reminders. This was an important function of the device as people with certain disabilities where sound causes pain find listening their own voice less painful.
Chronic Pain - 2%
A group of five students, Grace, Dandan, Jade, Jolin and Lilian produced an art installation to try to stimulate the feeling of chronic pain. Called “Two Per Cent” the project simulated the pain felt by neuropathic chronic pain sufferers using tens machine stimulation. The group came up with their design after compiling many stories and experiences from patients. The machine gave participants a resonating shock which people felt hard to endure for only 2 minutes. They were astounded to learn that the device only simulated 2% of a patient’s daily pain level.
Members of the public gained more insight into how chronic pain feels and began to understand that many people bear this invisible pain which is not obvious by looking at them. You can view a pdf of their project here.
The Language of Pain
Daily Ease - Reports Section
The Language of Pain gave a co-design opportunity for open dialogue and shared language between chronic pain sufferers and health professionals. The project was a collaborative research project between The Glasgow School of Art/Digital Health and Care Institute and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in collaboration with Affa Sair.
Daily Ease - Log In Page