On March 13-14, the KTU Design Centre team presented prototypes of products aimed at integrating children with type 1 diabetes at the international FEAST project event in Copenhagen, Denmark. The series of hackathons held in Milan, London, Kaunas, Berlin, and Copenhagen sought solutions to improve the food value chain, making it fairer, healthier, and more sustainable. The presented projects covered topics ranging from sustainable food production and waste reduction to improved food accessibility and the promotion of local food systems.
From children’s ideas to functional products
The project activities began with a hackathon in Kaunas in September 2024 at the “Herojus” school. The hackathon, organised by OpenDot, innovation hub for social impact based in Milan, addressed real challenges faced by children with type 1 diabetes. Children aged 10-14, together with designers and healthcare professionals, co-developed educational solutions to help young patients cope with both the physical inconveniences dictated by their diagnosis and the emotional aspects of integrating into peer environments. After an international team selected two winning ideas, they were further developed by KTU Design Centre researchers and students at the KTU M-Lab laboratory center.
The project was carried out by the KTU D-Lab team and FMED students: Lorenzo Piazzi, Justina Klėjutė, Hari Prasanna Manimaran, Limbert Renash Augustin, Caterina Pirola, Sofia Martinelli, Enrico Virgili, Adil Yerbolat, Juras Pajaujis, Tauras Paknys, Jogilė Tamošiūnaitė, Rugilė Vaidachovičiūtė, Rebeca De Freitas Camacho Fernandes, Jacob Gomez Morente.
“Sugar Help Box” – a system for storing healthy snacks and medical supplies
Problem: Primary school is one of the first experiences of collective social interaction for children with type 1 diabetes, making smooth integration into a new social group especially crucial in the early years. In Lithuania, both teachers and family members actively participate in communicating with other children to help them understand the needs of a child with diabetes. Diabetic children need to consume sugar or insulin regularly, even during lessons, and more frequent bathroom visits may disrupt activities. These situations cannot be ignored, but it is important to present them in a way that avoids stigmatization and discomfort.
Solution: The “Sugar Help Box” product aims to equalize access to food during school hours for all students, fostering a healthier approach to nutrition during adolescence. It consists of two parts:
The personal box is attached to the student’s desk, while six mobile shared boxes on wheels can be moved to different areas of the school. The boxes are marked with child-designed icons indicating their contents: fresh products, long-lasting snacks, or medical supplies.
During the design process, children participated in personalizing the boxes by drawing icons and cutting them with a laser in the school workshop. Two complete sets of “Sugar Help Box” (personal and shared boxes) will be used in a primary school for one year to assess their effectiveness and refine their functionality.
“Dia Bottle” – adapting teen fashion to health needs
Problem: Teenage years is a particularly sensitive transitional period when social skills, independence, and healthcare habits are formed, significantly affecting long-term quality of life. The need to carry blood glucose measurement devices, glucose, or other supplies can cause physical and emotional discomfort, increasing feelings of exclusion.
Solution: The team leveraged a popular youth trend of personalizing everyday items. They selected the globally recognized and beloved Stanley Cup thermos, which has become an integral part of youth style and identity expression. The “Dia Bottle” retains this function while becoming a fully functional accessory for diabetics.
The design was modified to enhance its functionality: the traditional flat lid was redesigned to increase capacity by an additional 400 ml, while a special compartment allows for storing up to 100 ml of glucose or insulin for emergencies. Additionally, the external “cover” system of the bottle was designed with extra pockets to carry essential medical tools – an insulin pen, test strips, batteries, medication packs, and other necessary supplies.
A key design aspect is customization, allowing users to personalize the bottle’s appearance to match their style. Well-known brand design elements, often used by youth as expressions of identity, were incorporated. As a result, the bottle not only serves a practical function but also becomes a symbol of self-expression and belonging to a community.
During product testing and presentations, it generated great interest among patients, their relatives, and medical professionals. Participants appreciated its practicality, aesthetics, and the ability to integrate medical needs into daily life without stigma or discomfort.
Design for healthcare and wellbeing – creative solutions for a more comfortable and healthier life
Design for healthcare and wellbeing is one of the research areas explored at KTU Design Centre‘s D-Lab laboratory. This field focuses on addressing healthcare and social care challenges by creating innovative products, services, and systems to improve people’s physical and emotional experiences, enhance working conditions for medical staff, and ensure more inclusive holistic healthcare accessibility.
At D-Lab, research integrates art and science methodologies, resulting in both practical and theoretical outcomes. Participation in the FEAST project emphasized the importance of social research in design development: when creating a product for a vulnerable social group, they were directly involved in the co-creation process. Children with diabetes and their families participated in workshops, and teachers working with diabetic patients provided consultations. Through such projects, the Design Laboratory explores how design can contribute to building an inclusive, effective, and sustainable healthcare ecosystem.
This hackathon is part of the European project FEAST – Food systems that support transitions to healthy and sustainable diets (https://feast2030.eu/), which aims to facilitate the transition to a food system that benefits both people and the planet.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101060536.
