University of Cincinnati

05/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/02/2026 00:58

Five students earn 1819 Innovation Awards at DAAPworks 2026

Five students earn 1819 Innovation Awards at DAAPworks 2026

Winners included sensory chairs for neurodivergent children and toys teaching kids to 3D print

8 minute read May 1, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print Story Like

Brilliant projects filled the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning during DAAPworks, the school's signature senior showcase.

Creativity was everywhere, but what stood out most was the strength of innovation behind each idea.

Five standout designs earned 1819 Innovation Awards, each recognized for forward-thinking work with real-world potential. As Cincinnati's hub for corporate collaboration and entrepreneurship, the 1819 Innovation Hub selected projects that combined originality, inventive use of technology, strong presentation and clear potential for application beyond the classroom.

Below are the 2026 DAAPworks Innovation Award winners.

Melded: Industrial chic lamp right arrow down arrow

Project designer: Shruti Parasher

Cincinnati has long been known for its industrial legacy, and Shruti Parasher tapped into that history to create Melded, a Cincinnati-built industrial chic lamp.

Parasher with her project, Melded. Photo/Mary Dwyer

"In essence, Melded is a modern desk that's inspired by the industrial factory task lamp," Parasher says. "And in its making and design, it reveals Cincinnati's industrial history."

By treating the manufacturing process itself as part of the storytelling, Melded adds meaning at the earliest stages of production. The 1819 Innovation Hub's Ground Floor Makerspace, located in the city that inspired the project, served as Melded's manufacturing base.

According to Parasher, Melded intentionally captures the intersection of innovation and inspiration. "It uses the fabrication of objects - how it's made, the processes involved - as a medium to communicate a larger idea that relates to a place and a story," she says.

Made in the University of Cincinnati's 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace, built for Cincinnati and inspired by Cincinnati. Melded is hometown pride, reimagined.

Naso: Food spoilage detector right arrow down arrow

Project designer: Ben Ragals

Rotten food's biggest warning sign is usually its smell, at least for those who can smell food. That's not the case for everyone, though, and loss of the sense has become far more common since COVID-19 surged in 2020.

Ragals with his project, Naso. Photo/Mary Dwyer

Industrial designer Ben Ragals saw the problem up close when his grandmother permanently lost her sense of smell and taste during the pandemic. "She's always been a good cook," Ragals says, "and it's been a big issue for her."

That inspired him to build Naso, a food spoilage detector designed for more accessible checking. Unlike most products on the market, which require food to be placed into a vial or container, Naso lets users point the detector at food and press a button.

"It's just a point-and-click system," Ragals says. "[Naso] uses a volatile organic compound sensor … typically, VOC sensors are used for measuring pollutants in industrial solutions, but foods also have their own signature."

For Ragals, the project is personal. For his grandmother, it could mean safer cooking and greater confidence in the kitchen.

SnapLab: 3D printed toys right arrow down arrow

Project designer: Leo Brock

Brock with his project, SnapLab. Photo/Mary Dwyer

3D printing is not usually considered a kid's activity. Leo Brock thinks that should change.

With SnapLab, Brock created a line of 3D-printed toys that make the building process part of the fun. His capstone project is designed to make 3D printing more accessible and engaging for even the youngest learners.

"My project is a 3D-printable toy system with each part being interchangeable so you can customize and create your own figures," Brock says. "The goal is to create an interactive toy for children to use while they're learning 3D printing to act as a reward for their learning."

Because SnapLab's parts can easily be swapped out, children can keep rebuilding and reimagining the same toy into something new. Or they can 3D print new pieces and make something entirely different.

"A lot of the 3D printing resources I've researched have the education part, but there's not much fun," Brock says, "and the same happens on the opposite. I aim to combine those two."

Soma Seat: Sensory school desk seat right arrow down arrow

Project designer: Bria Dues

Sitting still can be hard for any child, but it's especially difficult for neurodivergent students. Industrial design major Bria Dues saw that challenge firsthand through her friend Avery, who has Down syndrome and sensory needs.

Dues with her project, Soma Seat. Photo/Mary Dwyer

"There's not really a chance for movement … for kids with sensory issues in classrooms," Dues says. "The seating is very static, and these kids have to go retreat into a corner to get some kind of movement. I wanted to address this problem."

She answered with Soma Seat, a desk seat made of hard maple and cut with the help of the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace's CNC machines. The real innovation is underneath the surface: springs and four pivot points allow for up-and-down and back-and-forth motion.

That built-in movement helps children with sensory needs stay more comfortable and focused. It may also help other students concentrate better while reducing the need for teachers to constantly redirect restless behavior.

"Soma Seat was designed for people with sensory needs in mind, but I want its impact to reach every student," Dues says. "Because when we design for those who need it most, we create better environments for everybody."

Take Care: Heat patch dispenser right arrow down arrow

Project designer: Annika Jankowsky

Industrial design senior Annika Jankowsky wanted her capstone to address an often-overlooked women's health issue, and her research kept pointing to the same place: the dismissal of period pain.

She found that many people endure severe pain - even to the point of throwing up or passing out - only to be brushed aside at hospitals because the cause is "just" menstrual cramping.

Jankowski with her project, Take Care. Photo/Mary Dwyer

Take Care offers a practical response. The project is a dispenser stocked with a variety of heat patches and wrapped in packaging Jankowsky also designed, making it possible to place the solution in public spaces where it can help.

"[Take Care] uses an existing solution like a dispenser, which is already used for period care in shared spaces, but it provides a new service for people," Jankowski says. "Using this existing solution to provide a service that addresses an issue that's part of periods is innovative."

Jankowsky used the UV printer at the 1819 Makerspace to create Take Care's packaging prototype, taking advantage of its free certification programs for UC students, faculty and staff. She called the facility's training and support a "great experience."

Now she hopes the project can improve quality of life when people need relief most.

"Take Care solves a variety of different issues, tackling the complexity of experiencing periods in general," Jankowski says. "It also tells people that they can take care of their period pain instead of having to push through it."

From designs to DAAPworks

Turning strong ideas into finished capstone projects takes more than creativity. Students also need the right tools, expert guidance and training to bring those concepts to life.

That's where the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace comes in. The 12,000-square-foot space - the best-equipped of its kind in Greater Cincinnati - offers tools ranging from 3D printers and laser cutters to woodworking and soldering equipment.

Parasher, who used the makerspace's metalshop and waterjet cutters to build Melded, said the experience was invaluable. "I didn't know a thing about metalworking before this project," she says. "I learned [all my] machining from the great machinists there. The makerspace has been very supportive and helpful."

Featured image at top: The five winners of the 1819 Innovation Awards at DAAPworks 2026. Photo/Mary Dwyer

Innovation Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

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University of Cincinnati published this content on May 01, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 02, 2026 at 06:58 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]