UNSW Industrial Design graduate awarded top prizes at national awards

A UNSW Industrial Design graduate has been recognised as one of the best emerging designers in the country, earning top honours at the Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA) hosted by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA).

Maoxin Yuan and fellow Industrial Design graduate Luka Heeraman were shortlisted in the highly competitive USE category. Maoxin went on to claim the top prizes, winning the Australian Graduate of the Year Award in the USE Category, the NSW/ACT Graduate of the Year Award for the USE category, and the NSW/ACT Graduate of the Year Award across all design categories.

In the PLACE category, four Interior Architecture graduates, Jenna Fisher, Rachel Jacobs, Lin Lin Win Tun, and Eamon White, also received commendations for their outstanding design work.

“Being recognised is an incredible honour, and I am extremely proud of my hard work and dedication over the past four years, especially all the late nights and high standards I set for myself,” says Maoxin. “I also greatly appreciate the support and encouragement from my tutors and teachers, who pushed me to achieve my best.”

The GOTYAs are Australia’s premier awards program for recognising and celebrating the achievements of design graduates as they embark on their careers. The program, which has been running since 2003, provides a platform for emerging Australian designers, offering mentorship, feedback from experienced professionals, and industry connections.

Nominee portfolios are anonymously evaluated through a rigorous and transparent process. The award categories are forward-looking and praised for their exemplary approach that dissolves traditional silos and reflects multidisciplinary problem-solving for the future.

“Maoxin’s recognition at the Graduate of the Year Awards exemplifies the qualities emphasised at UNSW Industrial Design: creativity, technical expertise, and a deep commitment to social responsibility,” says Dr Mariano Ramirez, Discipline Director of Industrial Design at the School of Built Environment. “His achievements, along with those of his peers, reflect the values we instil in all our students: designing with empathy, purpose, and a forward-thinking mindset.”

“We are proud to see our graduates not only excel in their fields but also create meaningful, positive change through design.”

Maoxin’s award-winning project, SOOZE, is an innovative modular eye care device designed for individuals with Keratoconus. This progressive eye disease causes thinning and protrusion of the cornea, leading to severe vision impairment in approximately one in 84 young Australians.

SOOZE addresses critical challenges Keratoconus patients face, including discomfort from prolonged use of rigid contact lenses and limited mobility after their removal. The device provides non-invasive neurostimulation to alleviate pain and features a detachable visor module that enhances vision through retinal projection. It also offers red light therapy to improve sleep quality.

“My design philosophy combines user experience with aesthetically pleasing design,” Maoxin says. “For SOOZE, the design process involved multiple stages of academic research, consultation with experts and interviews with patients to understand their challenges and pain points.

“From there, I engaged in co-designed activities with patients to refine the design and ultimately produce the visually appealing concept model.”

Maoxin says his four years at UNSW, where he completed the Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours), were instrumental in his development as a designer.

“All my tutors and industry professionals provided me with valuable insights and guidance,” Maoxin says. “The collaborative and supportive community among my peers fostered an environment where we share knowledge and push each other to improve in class.”

Maoxin advises aspiring designers to relish every stage of the design process, from ideation to manufacturing, and focus on how innovation can create sustainable, user-centred products that address real-world challenges.

“My advice is to stay humble and continually push yourself to improve and learn more about all design aspects,” Maoxin says. “If you equip yourself with diverse knowledge and skills, believe in yourself, and work hard, everything else will look after itself.”