Kalina Sokolova Nikolova

What are you studying?

As a 16-year-old, I am currently navigating my way through high school and am looking forward to starting the IBDP next year.

What do you love about design?

Perhaps what I find most exciting about design is that it has the potential to very clearly and intuitively express ideas in a nonverbal fashion. Good designs have the ability to be instantly recognisable, regardless of age, gender, nationa­lity etc.

What was the inspiration behind your design?

The QEPrize winners are spearheading engineering innovation, for this reason, I chose the spearhead as the basis of my design. The trophy consists of one main spearhead shape and two more detailed variations attached to it. The variations both complete each other and build upon themselves, much like how different engineering fields interact.

Which areas of engineering do you find most interesting?

I find materials engineering most interesting. I believe breakthroughs in material engineering could solve many current global challenges as well as serve as a catalyst for innovation across many other engineering fields.

What do you want to see engineers doing in the future?

I am very excited to see engineers ease the transition to a more sustainable future through innovation. Ranging from dealing with deforestation to making green steel, engineers through all fields can work on solving environmental problems, improving the world with their inventions.