Mya Nguyen, a multi-disciplinary design student at the University of Utah, faced a challenge in her senior studio class to solve a problem with a product. The project took varying courses and avenues, but the initial thought started with body positivity.
After brainstorming, Nguyen took her initial concept of body positivity and addressed a problem she’d dealt with and thought a lot about: hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by excessive sweating. “I wanted to do something that mattered to me and for people to recognize this as a problem,” Nguyen said.
While this condition may seem insignificant to most, those afflicted often experience social alienation. The initial desire came from creating a solution and outlet for people to coexist with hyperhidrosis instead of taking drastic action such as surgery.
From the prototype to the final project, Nguyen overcame various obstacles, such as sourcing materials, sewing, incorporating effective textiles while maintaining aesthetics, and limited resources. The result? A stylish streetwear vest that alleviates hyperhidrosis.
“With this project, I found out I love fashion,” she said. “The future of this product is accompanying pants and a more polished vest with a bigger budget.”
In the future, Nguyen hopes to pursue a career in UI/UX design while working on textile projects on the side. Wherever she goes, innovation will likely follow.
More articles like this in ‘Student Innovation @ the U!’
Find this article and a lot more in the 2023 “Student Innovation @ the U” report. The publication is presented by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to celebrate student innovators, change-makers, and entrepreneurs.
