A graduate of the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Epsom has won the Design Council’s annual challenge for social innovation.

Alex Lampe, who studied a BA (Hons) graphic design degree at UCA Epsom, was lead designer on one of the five winning projects in the competition, Living Well with Dementia.

The task set by the Design Council, together with the Department of Health, was to improve the lives of dementia sufferers and their families through new ideas and practical solutions.

Mr Lampe’s team’s winning idea is a web-based service called Trading Times which matches carers with local businesses offering flexible paid work allowing them to earn money and stay connected with society.

Mr Lampe, who founded brand consultancy A+B Studio, said: "The competition was a great experience. Aside from the financial advantages that our project gives carers, one of the most powerful things that hit me was the sense of isolation that they experience, so being able to participate in employment for a few hours a week connects them back with society and gives them an enormous sense of self-worth.

"One of the carers we spoke to said that working on a deli counter for a couple of hours was the highlight of their week - these are the opportunities we want to create."

His team's concept won funding and support through early development and is now showcased online.

UCA Epsom graphic design lecturer, Mike Nicholson, who taught Mr Lampe, said: "Many people believe that design is only about commercial ideas and making money but initiatives like this show the public that design can help facilitate important social change and help make our lives better in other ways.

"It is always exciting to work on high-profile campaigns, but it was particularly rewarding to work on an ethical project like this.

"The Graphic Design course at UCA Epsom always promotes the social potential of design, so it’s fitting to see this on a large scale, and especially with a former student playing such a key role in one of the winning projects."