Masters Showcase 2025 Student Spotlight: Rija Amer
Student Spotlight featuring MSc Design: Products and Technology student, Rija Amer, and her project design 'Mira'.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 7 August 2025
Categories: Student Showcase; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
The project
Rija Amer has designed 'Mira' - a multi-sensory emotional support product for paediatric cancer patients that helps reduce anxiety and negative feelings through a ferrofluid interactive play element. Mira tracks emotional states via pulse and heat sensors embedded in a magnetic tool, syncing data with a companion app for themselves and their guardians. Children earn star-shaped rewards for treatment milestones, which they insert into a lamp to create constellations - visually reflecting their journey and encouraging emotional resilience.
Mira is designed to help children cope with their cancer treatment.
The inspiration behind the project
Rija was inspired by her own experience of seeing her mother - a cancer survivor - undergoing treatment. "Throughout that time, I often wondered why there wasn’t more support focused on helping her cope with the emotional and psychological toll of it all," says Rija. "Spending long hours with her in the waiting rooms during her radiation sessions, I couldn’t help but notice the young children around us, quietly waiting for their own treatment. I kept asking myself: do they really understand what’s happening to them? Do they know how to process what they’re feeling? That experience stayed with me. It sparked a deep desire to create something meaningful, something that could help children make sense of their journey in a way that speaks their language: through interaction, emotion, and play."
The project was inspired by Rija's mother’s experience with cancer.
Being part of NTU
Summing up her project, Rija says: "This has been especially close to my heart because of my mother’s experience with cancer. It’s been incredibly rewarding to explore child psychology and discover new, technology-driven ways to create meaningful interactions. One of the biggest challenges has been prototyping - an area that hasn’t always been my strongest suit. But through this project, I’ve pushed myself beyond my comfort zone and grown significantly in that aspect. Overall, the journey has been both challenging and deeply motivating, pushing me to learn, adapt, and stay driven throughout the process."
She considers her time at NTU to have been a rewarding experience that has given her the chance to meet people from all over the world and learn from their diverse perspectives.
"One of the most valuable personal skills I’ve developed is public speaking. As someone whose first language isn’t English, presenting confidently in front of others was initially intimidating - but over time, I’ve grown more comfortable and capable, which has been a big achievement for me.
"This degree has also taught me an important life lesson: even when you feel like you're on your own, there's always someone out there who understands what you're going through and is willing to help. That sense of community and support has made a big difference in my journey."
Closing remarks
For prospective postgraduate product design students, Rija offers the following advice:
"I’d say come prepared, because it’s a rollercoaster ride. Some days are smooth, but others can catch you off guard. If you're coming from a non-design background, it really helps to explore some foundational resources beforehand to understand what you're getting into. The university website provides an overview of the course modules - go through that carefully. I’d also recommend having a clear idea of what you want to achieve by the end of the course. That way, you can shape your learning and focus your energy throughout the year toward that goal."
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