Innovative ideas celebrated in Semester Two Grand Ideas competition

A total of 32 entries were received in this year’s challenge, canvassing health, sustainability, technology and environmental care. After a rigorous selection process, seven finalists were chosen to pitch their concepts to the panel of judges. Three standout concepts were awarded a share of the $10,000 prize pool supported by Massey Enterprise.

First place - Katya Gardiner

First place went to Bachelor of Communication student Katya Gardiner for her Cochlear Swim Goggles — a product designed to make swimming more inclusive and comfortable for people who wear cochlear implants, have sensory conditions, or those who simply want comfortable swim goggles. Inspired by her own experience of losing sound processors in the pool, Katya set out to create goggles with a fabric strap and pocket to keep them secure. Over the past year she has been selling them under the Cochlear Swim Goggles brand, with 42 pairs sold so far.

“Once I tried my design, I could enjoy the pool in whatever way I wanted, with the kid-like freedom of knowing my processors were safe and secure. This award will help me manufacture more goggles and expand into retail stores so customers can buy them in person as well as online,” Katya says.

Judge Grace Esterman praised the project’s clear potential for growth and impact.

“What an awesome project. It is clear that Katya is passionate about this and really has what it takes to grow this business and understand her next steps. The judges were impressed by the lean approach, work and sales to date. This money will make a big difference to this project and really help Katya to expand and grow this business in New Zealand.”

Second place - Mark Morris

Second place was awarded to Industrial Design student Mark Morris for Traverse — a hospital mobility walker with an integrated IV stand. By combining two essential pieces of equipment, Traverse promotes patient independence, accelerates recovery and eases hospital staff workloads, while improving circularity in healthcare design.

“Traverse was inspired by the simple but essential role mobility plays in patient recovery and how existing hospital equipment makes that harder,” Mark says. “Placing in the Grand Ideas competition is an incredible recognition and show of support for the project's potential, which has been incredibly motivating.

“I’ll be taking the project forward through my master’s, working alongside healthcare professionals to explore its potential impact in real hospital environments,” he adds.

Judge Adiraj Gupta highlighted the clinical focus and versatility of the design.

“By tackling the unglamorous reality of recovery, Traverse delivers dignity and independence to patients. Post-surgery, patients are encouraged to mobilise, yet too often they’re held back by overstretched staff and the difficulty of managing IV [intravenous] poles while relearning how to walk. Traverse removes those barriers with a simple but powerful solution and its potential to transform lives made this team truly stand out.”

Third place - Emma Quigan and Prianka Parusnath

Emma Quigan and Prianka Parusnath from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences created CommUnity Lab — a virtual reality platform that helps people with communication disorders. Drawing on their experience delivering Aotearoa New Zealand’s first fully distance-taught speech and language therapy programme, they saw how technology could overcome barriers to access. A decade ago, the iPad had transformed therapy by putting tools directly into clients’ hands; now they believe virtual reality holds similar potential.

“This project was more than just replicating existing methods. We needed to reimagine how speech therapy reaches people.”

“Imagine a transgender person who feels anxious about using their voice in public being able to practice in safe, realistic virtual environments. They can rehearse conversations, presentations or everyday interactions without fear of judgement, building confidence before stepping into real-world situations. This prize validates that our vision can become reality. Beyond helping us fund VR [virtual reality] hardware for testing, it has connected us to a network of innovators we never knew existed. It shows that technology-driven equity in speech therapy isn’t just possible, it’s already happening,” the pair say.

Judge Grace Esterman commended their thorough approach.

“CommUnity Lab had an impressive understanding of the problem, the market and the customer. It’s clear that there is a real problem that they have validated well and it needs to be solved. There’s a fantastic team behind this project that put a lot of time into creating an informative pitch.”

An honourable mention was given to Riddet Institute doctoral supervisor Dr Ali Rashidinejad for AlchemiaK — a food-tech innovation designed to reduce potassium in meals without compromising taste or cultural value—a breakthrough for people living with chronic kidney disease.

Judge Sophie Burling said the project showed exceptional promise.

“AlchemiaK impressed the judges with their revolutionary approach to food science, using strong research foundations to tackle a pressing health challenge. Their innovative solution has the potential to transform dietary management for people living with kidney disease and significantly improve quality of life.”

The Grand Ideas Competition continues to showcase the creativity, research and entrepreneurial spirit of Massey’s students and staff. From industrial design to virtual reality and food technology, this year’s entries highlight the university’s commitment to solving real problems in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.