Inspired by her family, Claire Oh ’26 uses her creative skills to design products with inclusivity in mind. Her dedication to design has recently been recognized: Claire was named a winner with distinction in the YoungArts Art Competition design category. Claire’s carefully thought out designs exemplify the importance of creativity in an increasingly high-tech world.

Her winning entry is a brand called Gustocco, which reimagines meal kits to be tailored to those with visual impairments, especially the elderly. Not only is visual impairment considered in this design, but so are other obstacles elderly people face, like reduced motor skills and reduced sensitivity. For example, the matte paper boxes reduce glare, making text easier to read, and the tear-away packaging means opening the kit is never a challenge. Most importantly, textured tiles designate each ingredient type, allowing those who may not be sensitive enough to feel braille to easily distinguish between meats and vegetables. Gustocco’s product photos are included below:

Claire was inspired to make this product because of her grandmother, who has cataracts. After seeing her grandmother cut her finger open while cooking due to her visual impairment, Claire knew she had to find a better solution. To do so, she drew on her previous experience both as a student of Mitty’s ASL class and as an artist.

Primarily self-taught, Claire’s skills have developed over the years as she has switched between a variety of styles and mediums, centering today around realism and meticulous design. Her art journey started at three, when her imagination naturally manifested in drawings. As she got older, she continued teaching herself basic art skills, primarily focusing on sketching. She started her first art classes in middle school and switched to a new medium: graphic design. At Mitty, she once again strengthened her foundational skills with traditional art classes before finding her niche in product design. Her first product design was the Visual Sound Book, aimed towards illustrating the complex sounds of nature in a simplistic and fun way for deaf children. These are shown below:

In the AP Studio Art class at Mitty, Claire’s peers describe her as a detail-oriented artist whose precision contributes to her masterful illusions, evoking deep emotions within the viewer. Her art teacher this year, Mr. Olein, describes her work as having “an interesting way of finding off-beat perspectives with a high sense of drama and realism.” The individuality within her work highlights her strengths. 

The passion evident through her art adds an element of care, with many projects having a clear connection to the artist. Throughout this year, teachers and peers alike recognize Claire’s considerable virtuosity as each of her pieces evolve.   

Gustocco is the culmination of a varied portfolio of disability-friendly design projects. Other than meal kits, Claire has also dabbled in creating card games and books for deaf children that visually depict sound. Currently, she is working to bring Gustocco’s design to physical grocery stores, turning the award-winning concept into reality. In the future, she wishes to continue making deaf-friendly designs and ultimately take her human-centered approach to the industry as a mechanical engineer. With her artistic talents, Claire hopes to make everyday products accessible to all.