Startup Stories: Designing A Healthier World
Feel the startup groove
Design is more than just creating visually appealing objects; it’s a potent force capable of making genuine changes in people’s lives, reshaping societal norms, and bridging gaps where words fall short. Our upcoming Startup Stories event delves deep into the transformative power of design, exploring its potential to address real-world challenges and create lasting impact.
Within the intricate fabric of design lies the potential to break barriers, especially when it focuses on inclusivity, empowerment, and autonomy.
It’s about finding solutions where traditional approaches have failed, championing projects that both acknowledge and cater to diverse needs, and understanding how design can become a tool for tangible, positive change.
Join us as we unravel the myriad ways design intertwines with daily lives, becoming more than just a visual element, but a cornerstone of impactful change.
The event will happen online and is co-organized with the Z-Kubator at ZHdK and the Impact Hub Zurich.
Speaker
Stella Waldvogel, Founder isyo
Stella Waldvogel is the founder of the brand “isyo”, which produces products aimed at enabling individuals of all body types to experience sexuality autonomously and on their own terms. She studied Industrial Design at ZHdK (Zürich University of the Arts) and completed her Bachelor’s degree in 2021. During her studies, a friend asked if she could develop a product that would allow individuals with a surgically formed penis to have penetrative sex without an erection prosthesis implant. She addressed this topic in her bachelor’s thesis.
Since then, she has been interested in how design can eliminate barriers and foster inclusivity for people. Currently, she is working on the first sexual health product for “isyo”, which is expected to hit the market in the coming months. Isyo’s products aim to spotlight and address the overlooked areas in the sextoy industry, specifically related to the LGBTQ+ community and products for people with disabilities.
Adonis Bou Chakra, Co-Founder Aepsy
Adonis Bou Chakra, co-founder and CPO of Aepsy, a Swiss mental health platform established in early 2020, holds a Master’s in Digital Management from Hyper Island. With previous experience as the Global UX/UI Design Manager at Sennheiser, Adonis is dedicated to enhancing mental health access through user-centered design. Aepsy is revolutionizing Switzerland’s mental healthcare. The platform merges human creativity, aesthetics, and technology, providing an uncomplicated, stigma-free approach to mental well-being. Aepsy’s mission? Breaking barriers and setting minds free for today’s generation and those to follow.