Room divider wins design award - graduate jobs

A Royal College of Art graduate has been named the UK winner of the James Dyson Award for his invention of the KwickScreen retractable room divider.

Michael Korn's lightweight, portable screen works well in hospitals, helping to effectively safeguard patients' privacy.

Over 25 NHS trusts have bought the KwickScreen after only eight months of trading. It has also been purchased by hospitals in other countries, such as Italy, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Korn said the award is expected to help drive KwickScreen's sales across the world.

The £1,000 prize money will be used to pay the first salary of a new graduate engineer recruit, who is working on further development of the invention.

To win the international award, Mr Korn will have to compete against top inventors from 18 other nations.

The prize money allocated to the person who wins the international award, which will be announced in November, is £10,000.

Copyright Press Association 2011