Greek Australian industrial designer Alessia Tsolakis earned a spot as a finalist in the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards in the Student’s Design category, for her work in developing a self-monitoring melanoma detection device.

“It came as such a surprise because I worked on this project for about 12 weeks with my university.

“To be recognised as a finalist, is such an achievement and, I’m just feeling very proud about it,” said Alessia Tsolakis to Neos Kosmos.

Recognising melanoma as a “prevalent issue in Australia,” that affects “many people in different ways,”, the 21-year-old industrial designer developed ‘SPOT,’ a handheld melanoma detection device, designed to monitor and record visual symptoms in evolving moles.

However, it was Alessia’s mother’s experience – undergoing the removal of two melanomas from her back – that served as the primary “inspiration and drive behind this project.”

“She went to the GP for something unrelated and she left with stitches. They had to remove it straight away. It motivated me to make something that was preventative, something that you’re able to monitor and to have access to at home and that way you can go to your specialist, and you can go to a GP with a little bit more confidence and some accuracy through photographs.”

'SPOT,' is a handheld melanoma detection device, designed to monitor and record visual symptoms in evolving moles. Photo: Supplied

'SPOT' consists of two parts with the first one being a handheld device used for capturing moles independently. Photo: Supplied

The second part is a removable wall mount, which is designed for hard-to-reach areas on the body. Photo: Supplied

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Sofia Tsolakis shares that her own challenges in understanding changes in spots on her body, “triggered” her daughter’s “journey” in developing a product, which would operate as an “effective tool that could monitor those spots from home,” without “taking away a doctor’s eyes or doctor’s expertise.”

“I’m beyond proud because she cares for her family. All the love she put into that invention, because mum wasn’t well… it’s how good products are usually formed, by necessity,” Alessia’s mother, Sofia Tsolakis, told Neos Kosmos.

The self-contained mole monitoring device consists of two parts.

First, there is a handheld device used for capturing moles independently. The second part is a removable wall mount, which is designed for hard-to-reach areas on the body.

“You can attach the handheld tool to the wall mount and then connect through an app on your phone to record these moles,” explains Alessia.

While enjoying her time in Thessaloniki, Greece in July 2023, “catching up with aunties and uncles,” the young finalist of the Victorian Premier’s Design Awards, received an email from her university, encouraging her to apply for the award.

Worrying she would “miss the deadline,” while being overseas without “access to her work,” the 21-year-old Greek Australian, was pleasantly surprised to find that her “last-second entry” was “thankfully considered.”

“It was all quite a shock, not only that I was able to apply at the very last second but also to be recognised in a way that the state thinks that this could be further developed and pursued as something to help people.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree in industrial design, and with only one year remaining in her master’s in Business at Melbourne University, Alessia is excited to explore new “opportunities that have opened up different doors” that she “never really thought about before.”

“I would love to keep working in medical technologies. I know that through this project there is scope for me to further pursue it.”

As Alessia eagerly awaits the results announcement at the March ceremony, her advice to new graduates is simple:

“Take that risk and step into something completely unfamiliar. You might end up loving it – I certainly found my passion that way. So, give it a try. You never know what could happen, and even if you don’t like it, remember, you can always make a change.”