Meet the 2019 Scholars

Get to know the hopes, dreams, and talents of this year's winners.

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Molly B.

Undergraduate Recipient

"Choose one inspirational quote or motto that has helped you throughout your journey with cystic fibrosis. How do you live by your quote or motto and how has it motivated you to accomplish your goals?"

“Everyone has something.” Growing up, these words were constantly repeated to my sister and I. In moments where we felt frustrated with our disease, our mom gently reminded us that we all have things that make us different. Whether visible or invisible, everyone has daily challenges. I found this knowledge not only empowering, but liberating. I was no longer a person with Cystic Fibrosis named Molly, but instead just Molly who happens to be living with CF. Having Cystic Fibrosis, my “something”, has challenged me to be a designer that is conscious and compassionate of the world around me. While Cystic Fibrosis often can be viewed as a negative, I see it as experience that has given me a unique and passionate perspective as a designer. While doing my undergrad at Parsons Fashion and now a masters at Central Saint Martins: Material Futures, I have used this experience to create work that is targeted directly at improving the wellbeing of those within the medical system. With this in mind, I created Hospital Hacks, a kit for patients to personalize the hospital experience. The kit included a redesigned hospital gown that provides more patient dignity, as well as accessible garments that could potentially replace the hospital gown altogether. It is extremely important to me that I take what makes me different and use it to positively impact the world and communities that I engage with. Everyone has something, but what’s important is what we do with it.

Molly B.'s Artwork

Molly B.'s Achievements

  • Future Factory at the Design Museum London: Workshop leader (December 2018). This was a day of workshops exploring a range of different production models and "future factories" in a series of discussions and hands-on activities. My workshop questioned how nanotechnology would play a role in creating a more sustainable food industry.
  • UNLEASH, Sustainable Development Goals Innovation Lab Design Talent: Health and Well-being (August 2017). This is a highly selective global innovation lab built around solving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Over the course of 11 days in Denmark, we worked in teams to create problem framings, system mappings, and ultimately design solutions in regard to health and well-being that were pitched to a panel of investors and experts willing to actualize our ideas.
  • Ministry of Loneliness x Tate Exchange at the Tate Modern Museum: Workshop/Pop Up Leader and Designer (January 2019). This one-day pop-up invited visitors to combat loneliness by writing letters to strangers in a collaborate space that encouraged the sharing of ideas and connections with those engaging with the work.
  • Fragilitas: Handle With Care at RECIPROCITY Design Liege Triennial: Exhibited Designer (October 2018 - November 2018). My work (Hospital Hacks) was featured at this Triennial exhibition in Belgium that examined the relationships and revealed the dialogue and distance between cure and care in medical settings.
  • Care and Wear x Parsons: Team Leader and Designer (January 2017 - January 2019). I led team of 3 in partnership with Care+Wear to research, design, prototype, and produce a replacement for the the current hospital patient gown. This gown was tested by patients, fashion designers, nurses, doctors, hospital leaders, and laundering experts to provide coverage and dignity for patients while also providing adequate access to the body for clinicians. It is currently being tested in New York hospitals.
  • Council of Fashion Designers of America - Fashion Futures Graduate Showcase: Spotlighted Designer (June 2017). This exhibition is a hybrid physical and digital showcase spotlighting exemplary graduating talent to fashion and design industry professionals. Once selected, graduates were invited to show their thesis collection at a CFDA gallery in New York City, as well as be featured on the CFDA website.
  • Hospital Hacks: Design and Research Lead (August 2016 - June 2017). This was a self-initiated and self-actualized project redesigning the current hospital system and patient experience through the garments and objects that patients interact with. Outcomes included a redesigned hospital gown, accessible sweaters and shirts, and customizable activity kits.
  • Parsons Social Innovation Award finalist (May 2017)
  • Parsons Creative Systems Award semi-finalist (May 2017)
  • Dean’s List: Parsons School of Design (August 2013-May 2017)