Beacon Hospital Nurses Uniform Design Competition Winner Announced

Beacon Hospital Nurses Uniform Design Competition Winner Announced

At the Griffith College Dublin design graduation ceremony 2022, BA (Hons) in Fashion Design graduate Sophia Sauer was announced as the overall winner of the Beacon Hospital Uniform Design Competition. Sophia was a design finalist last June, and at her graduation ceremony this November she received an award and news that her winning design was produced.

At the graduate showcase, Vivienne Walshe, the Marketing Director of Beacon Hospital spoke about the students' professionalism and presented cheques to each finalist, including Sophia for her Uniform Collection called ‘Still Water’, alongside finalists Franziska Klein for her Collection Cellularis, Jocelyn Schönemann for Centre of Technology and Venus Chan for Collection Rhythm.

Vivienne Walshe stated that Sophia’s uniform collection design was “a clear winner with both the nursing staff and our management team, as she had carefully considered the brief and focused on the need for comfort, flexibility, breathability, colour ranking as well as the overall visual appeal. Sophia cleverly managed to achieve all of this without compromising on style or design”. The “Still Water” theme expressed so well the requirement for the wearer to feel light and free to move, and the collection of colours and uniform names inspired by water is so unique providing comfort and calmness for both patient and nurse”.

Speaking about the competition, Fashion Design Programme Director Jane Leavey said, “Our fashion design students were challenged by Beacon Hospital to rethink and redesign the Nursing staff uniforms, giving back to the nurses for their unbelievable efforts during the pandemic. The students were tasked to design uniforms that are modern, fashionable and functional. And they delivered designs that are cutting-edge in both style, fabric and functionality”.

“This live project was a valuable experience for our students, and their work really epitomises the learning outcome of our brief to include a design solution for positive change. I can happily say these students have gained a great understanding of how design can make a real impact”, Jane continued.

Speaking about the project, Sophia said, “The Beacon Hospital Project was a great experience as it was such an important project that will have a major impact on the hospital staff and patients. With my design, I especially wanted to appreciate all the wonderful work the nurses do and say Thank You! The project showed me what design work and working with a client could look like in the future. Designing the uniform was both exciting and challenging. There were many aspects to take into consideration: the daily tasks of the nurse interacting with the patients, the patient themselves and of course how to combine all that with my creative vision."

Griffith College and the Design faculty would like to congratulate Sophia Sauer and everyone shortlisted on this incredible achievement.