Congrats Arina & Maria, winners in the HIC 2024!
I am delighted to share success stories of two Digital Business Management students who participated in Humber’s Centre for Innovation in Health & Wellness (CIHW) Health Innovation Challenge 2024. Maria and Arina collaborated in multi-disciplinary teams alongside students from different faculties and programs at Humber to tackle a challenge using knowledge and tools learned in their Digital Business Management courses.
Maria Kusakina (LinkedIn) is a third year student in the Digital Business Management program, she was introduced to App prototype development using Figma in her fifth semester course BUS 3003 e-Business Information Systems and Technology, and is currently completing Google’s UX Design certificate. With her group, Maria secured second place in the HIC 2024.
Inspired by the simplicity and appeal of the Duolingo app, and utilizing Canva for royalty free graphics, Maria gradually moved her low-fidelity designs to a high-fidelity prototype, and added navigation using Figma. Check the SugarStrike App prototype she developed for this challenge (click Ctrl+Alt+Enter) to explore the app.
Arina Volkova (LinkedIn) is a second year student in the Digital Business Management program, she was introduced to MailChimp sites through Google’s Digital Marketing certificate, and continues to polish and improve her web development skills and knowledge through the fourth semester course BUS 2504 Web Development. With her group, Arina emerged as the winner of the HIC 2024. Check the Youth vs. Diabetes website she developed for this challenge.
Health Innovation Challenge 2024
The following article is written by Maria and Arina.
The Health Innovation Challenge was an exciting and impactful initiative aimed at fostering student creativity and problem-solving skills in the realm of healthcare. One of the key objectives of the Health Innovation Challenge was to shed light on the critical issue of diabetes prevention. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes have become increasingly prevalent among young adults, posing significant health risks and burdening healthcare systems worldwide. Recognizing the urgency of this problem, the challenge placed a strong emphasis on raising awareness about these conditions and empowering young adults to take proactive steps towards prevention. The HIC attracted numerous enthusiastic student participants eager to make a difference.
Maria’s Experience
As a soon-to-be graduate, I was thrilled to participate in the Health Innovation Challenge, and I’m excited to share the incredible journey I embarked upon as a participant. Motivated by personal experiences and a desire to make a positive impact on health education, I set out to create an innovative solution that would empower young adults to understand and prevent diabetes effectively. With a passion for design and access to cutting-edge technology, I decided to utilize various software tools, including Figma and Canva, to bring my vision to life.
My journey began with thorough research into the challenges faced by young adults in comprehending the complexities of diabetes. Working with my group, we sought to understand what would keep young adults engaged and interested, and how we could make our idea truly useful. Through our research, we discovered that mobile applications are the best way to reach our target audience and make a tangible impact. Thus, we embarked on creating SugarStrike, a unique learning app that offers quizzes on diabetes, prediabetes, prevention, medication, nutrition, and
more. What sets SugarStrike apart from its competitors is its innovative rewards system, which caters to the interests and hobbies of our target audience. Users earn points for completing quizzes, which they can then redeem for prescriptions, gym memberships, wellness appointments, and other health-related rewards.
Throughout the development process, I encountered numerous challenges and setbacks. As the sole member working on the app’s prototype, I faced the task of learning how to utilize various tools, create navigations, and implement animations. However, with the support of our mentors and fellow participants in the Health Innovation Challenge, I felt motivated to put in the hard work and overcome any obstacles.
The competition culminated in a panel discussion of a problem with industry experts and a presentation of our project before judges and fellow participants. It was incredibly rewarding to witness their positive reactions to the interactive features and design of my app.
This remarkable journey of innovation and impact has had a profound impact on my personal and academic growth. The Health Innovation Challenge has not only strengthened my technical skills but has also provided me with a deep understanding of the transformative power of technology in driving positive change in healthcare. I firmly believe that through education and innovation, we can build a healthier and more empowered society.
Arina’s Experience
This year, I had the remarkable opportunity to contribute to this evolving landscape through the Humber College Health Innovation Challenge. In the heart of an increasingly digital world, the intersection of technology and healthcare has never been more crucial. Our project, Youth vs. Diabetes, aimed to address the growing concern of Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes among young adults. As a proud student of Digital Business Management, this experience was not just a competition; it was a journey towards making a tangible difference: a whole platform that would create a sense of community. We set out to create a platform that not only informs but also engages and empowers young adults. Our website
became a mosaic of resources, featuring a mentorship matching portal, a healthy recipes catalog, a storytelling page filled with real-life battles against diabetes, and a fitness challenges section to encourage physical well-being.
Stepping into the dual roles of a web developer and a social media marketing (SMM) specialist, I was tasked with not just the creation but also the
communication of our vision. Developing the website was a journey through the intricacies of user experience (UX) design, responsive layouts, and content management systems. Each feature was meticulously crafted to ensure ease of access and engagement, from the mentorship portal to the storytelling narratives.
Parallelly, as the SMM specialist, I was crafting posts that resonated with our audience in order to engage with the target audience the best way possible. This challenge was a testament to the power of digital innovation in addressing real-world issues. It honed my skills in web development, taught me the nuances of social media marketing, and underscored the importance of empathy in technology.
Collaborating with a team of equally passionate individuals, I learned the value of diverse perspectives and the strength found in unity.
As we share our journey in the dean’s newsletter, I am reminded of the impact that digital business management students can make when we blend technology with empathy, innovation with awareness. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my team, our mentors, and everyone who supported us through this journey.
Read more about this challenge on Humber Today.
Hanadi Alnawab 