TU Dublin Product Design Graduate Ella Flanagan Reaches Global Top 20 in James Dyson Award 2026
.jpg)
TU Dublin Product Design graduate Ella Flanagan has earned international recognition, securing a place in the global Top 20 of the James Dyson Award 2026 for Noli, her innovative emergency wristband designed to improve mental health nurses' safety.
Ella developed Noli to help nurses discreetly call for assistance in potentially dangerous situations. The wristband triggers an emergency alert when the wearer pulls and holds the strap for three seconds.
Using Bluetooth Low Energy technology, Noli identifies the three nearest staff members, helping direct assistance where it is needed without alerting everyone in the building.
Inspired by her family’s connections to mental health nursing, Flanagan developed the prototype while studying Product Design at TU Dublin. The project has also received recognition through the HSE Spark Innovation programme and the HSE Design on the Frontline competition. Noli will now progress to the final stage of judging, where inventor Sir James Dyson will review the shortlisted projects for the chance to win €35,000.
Flanagan plans to continue developing and testing the technology with healthcare innovators, with the ambition of introducing Noli into mental health settings to create safer environments for staff and patients.
The global winners of the James Dyson Award 2026 will be announced on 4 November.
Interested in studying Product Design at TU Dublin? Find out more about the undergraduate programme.