Enware Wins Gold in the Prestigious Good Design Awards

Hand hygiene is critical in preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Through human-centred design, Enware has taken a holistic approach to redefining hand hygiene safety—an achievement that has now been recognised with a prestigious Good Design Award Gold Accolade.

The Hand Hygiene Management System supports healthcare facilities in transitioning from enforced and often invisible compliance to a model where sustainable hand hygiene behaviour becomes second nature.

Challenge
Despite advances in technology and awareness, HAIs remain a persistent challenge, with a significant socio-economic burden. Enware’s design-led research identified key behavioural and environmental barriers that contribute to poor compliance.

While the causes are complex, a critical factor is mindset—and its influence on human behaviour. The challenge was to use design not just to improve functionality, but to positively reshape the hand hygiene experience, shift perceptions, and foster long-term behavioural change.

Solution
Co-designed in collaboration with industry partners, university researchers, and medical professionals, the Hand Hygiene Management System is a holistic, human-centred solution. It integrates a smart clinical wash station with intelligent sanitiser dispensers, personal ID technology, and real-time feedback tools.

The system forms a virtual sentry around the patient, providing continuous monitoring of hygiene performance within the clinical environment. It informs individual clinicians of their compliance via personalised feedback, using gamification to drive immediate improvements and support lasting change.

 

Impact
This system has the potential to significantly reduce infection transmission in healthcare settings—minimising human suffering, illness, and mortality. It also helps to alleviate the social and professional burden clinicians face when HAIs occur.

By visualising the problem and empowering staff with actionable data, the system supports safer patient experiences and better clinical outcomes. At a time when healthcare budgets are under pressure, it offers a smart, preventative solution that can reduce avoidable readmissions and free up resources for essential services.

More
The Hand Hygiene Management System is easy to implement within existing infrastructure. The newly developed stand-alone wash station is purpose-built to minimise bacterial growth and simplify cleaning, featuring:

  • Seamless, single-wipe surfaces
  • Extended waste trap to prevent backflow
  • Thermostatic water temperature control
  • Automatic stagnation flushing

With the use of a smart ID wearable, the system recognises individual clinicians and tailors the experience—from water temperature preferences to personalised greetings, performance dashboards, and live news updates displayed on the interactive screen. It also offers guided handwashing animations and monitors wash duration in real time.

Together with a network of smart sanitiser dispensers, the wash station establishes controlled entry into safe patient zones—making invisible hygiene behaviours visible. All data is securely stored in the cloud and delivered via a dedicated app that educates, gamifies, and reinforces positive behavioural change.

This is how Enware is using design to solve one of healthcare’s most persistent problems—and why the Hand Hygiene Management System was recognised with Gold at the 2024 Good Design Awards.

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