Product Design

Enya O'Brien

My name is Enya, I am a final year product design student. Design, for me, is about solving problems but also understanding people and creating solutions that genuinely support their lives. I have an interest in thoughtful aesthetics, conducting research, and the craft of making, whether that is through hands-on model making or developing in CAD. ThermaPointe was born from my own experience of the physical strain dancers face daily and my beliefs on the importance of health and wellbeing.  

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ThermaPointe

ThermaPointe is an ankle recovery device using contrast hot and cold therapy designed for ballet dancers. It aims to enhance muscle recovery to reduce the risk of injury in the ankle and foot. Ballet dancers are high-performance artists who endure demanding physical training, repetition of extreme movements, and tight performance schedules that often leave insufficient time for full recovery leading to career ending injuries. The device uses integrated Peltier modules and a layer of graphite material to deliver controlled hot and cold thermal therapy directly to the ankle to improve recovery. It is designed with breathable, machine-washable fabrics with a built-in rechargeable battery and can be controlled by a manual on-device button. The product enables temperature-specific treatments to aid in pumping oxygenated blood around the body to enhance performance and improve recovery.