Suet Sum Ho
Product Design MA
Royal College of Art
Graduates: 2025
Specialisms: Product Design / Design for Social Good
My location: London, United Kingdom
Suet Sum Ho
First Name: Suet Sum
Last Name: Ho
University / College: Royal College of Art
Course / Program: Product Design MA
Graduates: 2025
Specialisms: Product Design / Design for Social Good
My Location: London, United Kingdom
About
Suet Sum Ho (Sam) is a Hong Kong–born product designer based in London and Hong Kong. With a background shaped by cross-cultural experiences, she brings a global perspective to her creative practice. Curious and observant by nature, Sam draws inspiration from everyday human interactions and the subtle details of her surroundings. Seeking to broaden her horizons, she moved from Hong Kong to Nottingham and then to London to continue her studies, later graduating from the Royal College of Art with a Master’s in Design Products.
This project explores the intersection of ageing, mobility, and social stigma, focusing on the emotional and cultural barriers faced by older adults—particularly women—when using assistive walking devices. In many societies, walking sticks are perceived as symbols of decline, reinforcing feelings of dependency and invisibility. This project reimagines the walking stick as a tool for empowerment, identity, and self-expression, using inclusive design methods to shift narratives around ageing and independence. The research centres on two key strategies: emotional reframing and cultural integration. The emotional strategy responds to psychological resistance by redesigning the form, tactility, and visibility of the walking aid to promote confidence and pride. The cultural strategy engages with local traditions in Hong Kong and Ghana, incorporating material storytelling and regional craft into the design. The result is a series of culturally grounded prototypes that feel familiar, beautiful, and intentional—walking sticks that invite dignity, autonomy, and social acceptance into daily life.
Competitions
