NEVI Project Earns Top Accolades at New Designers Event in London

Rosie Wise-Mellor Wins National Recognition for Healthcare Design Excellence

Design and innovation continue to play a transformative role in advancing healthcare solutions, particularly when driven by emerging talent. At this year’s New Designers event in London, one such example stood out: Rosie Wise-Mellor, a BA (Hons) Product Design student from Bournemouth University, was honoured with the Seymourpowell ‘Shape the Future’ Award for her pioneering project titled ‘NEVI’.

NEVI is a handheld skin imaging device developed to aid in the early detection and monitoring of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. By integrating a micro camera and dermatoscope, the device captures high-resolution, magnified images of moles and skin lesions. These images can then be tracked over time via a companion app, which also provides guidance on when to seek medical advice. Notably, judges described NEVI as “a meaningful product that solves a real human need,” particularly commending its potential to empower women over 35 to monitor their skin health more proactively.

The award was presented as part of New Designers, a major London exhibition that showcases the work of over 2,500 graduates across disciplines such as fashion, product design, illustration, and textiles. The Seymourpowell ‘Shape the Future’ Award specifically recognises designs that demonstrate originality, insight, and impact qualities that NEVI exemplified. In an interview, Rosie shared that her design philosophy centres on solving real-world problems with empathy, purpose, and precision. She emphasised that design should be both intuitive and impactful, reflecting a deep understanding of user needs. Explaining her product, she noted that NEVI enables users to capture and compare images of moles over time, thereby facilitating early identification of changes that may warrant medical attention.

Rosie reportedly drew inspiration from the common delays individuals face in seeking dermatological advice, often due to limited awareness or access. Her goal was to encourage regular mole monitoring as part of a routine skincare practice, especially among women over 35. The potential to support early skin cancer detection through consistent use was a key motivator behind her project. Upon receiving the award, Rosie expressed both surprise and gratitude, describing the experience as surreal. She remarked that being recognised among so many talented designers provided a strong sense of validation and made her efforts in research and development feel truly worthwhile. The accolade, she added, has inspired her to continue refining the project.

Looking ahead, Rosie confirmed her intention to pursue a career in design and engineering, expressing enthusiasm for exploring diverse sectors—whether in consumer products, lifestyle, or other unexpected domains. She conveyed a passion for solving real-world problems through thoughtful, practical design and aims to create work that is both innovative and genuinely useful. Additionally, she was among the students who showcased their final-year projects at Bournemouth University’s Festival of Design & Engineering, held at the Talbot Campus in late June. Rosie Wise-Mellor’s award-winning project exemplifies how empathetic design and technological innovation can converge to address critical healthcare challenges with lasting impact.

Editor’s Note

Rosie Wise-Mellor’s award at the New Designers event in London is a proud moment for her and a strong example of how design can make a real difference in healthcare. Her project, NEVI, shows how thoughtful and practical design can help with serious issues like early detection of melanoma, a type of skin cancer where early diagnosis can save lives. What makes this achievement special is how it turns student-led innovation into a useful tool for everyday people. By using smart imaging and an easy-to-use app, NEVI helps users track changes in their skin and know when to seek medical advice. This can be especially helpful for women over 35, who are often overlooked in preventive skincare.

Skoobuzz underlines that Rosie’s success highlights the importance of design education in creating problem-solvers who can work across many fields. Her work is inspiring for other young designers and shows how human-centred innovation can lead to real change in people’s lives.