Innovation Design Engineering (MA/MSc)
Antonia Jara-Contreras
I am an innovation designer, maker & researcher passionate about combining science and design. I bring in a strong background in diverse design fields, such as design engineering, strategic design, design interaction, environmental and industrial design. I have experience executing large companies’ innovation challenges and co-creating meaningful high-impact solutions.
I co-founded together with three Innovation Design Engineering fellows the innovative company SaltyCo. A sustainable textile brand with a unique vision –to reduce global freshwater consumption by offering alternative freshwater-free textiles.
Independent Awards & Exhibitions
Project Mindseye, Finalist, Grand Challenge Competition 2018, CERN & RCA
Triciclo Veloz Award 2017, Idemax, Chile
Project D-Casket, National Design Biennial Exhibition 2017, Santiago, Chile
Project D-Casket, published in book 6, Design Biennial in Alert 2017, Chile
SaltyCo Awards & Exhibitions
Semi-finalist, Mayor of London Entrepreneur Award 2020 (Ongoing)
Creative and Consumer Heats Winner and Finalist 2020, Venture Catalyst Challenge
Runner-Up ‘Design for Social Impact’ 2020, Core77
4th Place Community Award 2020, Green Concept Award
Moving to Mars Symposium, Design Museum, 2020
Architect @ Work Exhibition, Bilbao, 2020
Green Product Award Exhibition, IHM Munich, 2020
Work in Progress Exhibition, Royal College of Art, 2020
Work in Progress Exhibition, Imperial College London, 2020
Able
Today, 20% of the worldwide population suffers from chronic or persistent pain. Persistent pain is both invisible and misunderstood, and people feel stigmatised and blamed for it. The majority gets incredibly frustrated because they don’t understand why it hurts or what caused it, and most healthcare professionals don’t hold the answer either. Conclusively, chronic pain bearers are three times more likely to develop other disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, one of the biggest disappointments of people with persistent pain is the deprivation of doing activities they want to do. Able will empower them to be in control of their pain by notifying positive emotional states to maximise daily activities. With Able, chronic pain bearers have the opportunity for a life better lived.
