ProActive named Canada’s national winner of the 2026 James Dyson Award
Marzuq Vohra and Vienna Doria-Pighin’s smart vest takes the Canadian title and advances to the international stage.
ProActive, the smart wearable vest developed by Vayence Inc founders Marzuq Vohra and Vienna Doria-Pighin, has been named Canada’s national winner of the 2026 James Dyson Award.
The $9,000 national prize will support the project’s next steps in development and commercialization. ProActive now advances to the international competition, alongside Canadian national runners-up AnemoSwab and SoleTrace, for a place on the international shortlist of 20 projects.
Using skin-contact sensors, the vest continuously monitors biometric signals associated with rising stress. When heightened stress is detected, a compressor gently inflates air bladders within the garment, delivering a calming, hug-like deep pressure response. It stays active until readings return to baseline or the wearer turns it off, then deflates gradually.
The project is rooted in personal experience for both designers: Vienna grew up with sensory sensitivities, and Marzuq watched his autistic brother navigate sensory overload.
The work was supported by an independent study in OCAD University’s Industrial Design program, supervised by Industrial Design Chair Dr. Peter Coppin with involvement from the Perceptual Artifacts Lab, and by KITE Creates through FIBRE SONA VEE: Innovation in Wearable Therapeutic Technologies research funding.
“We hope it brings greater validation to the work we’re doing, but more importantly, greater visibility to the community we’re working to serve.”
Learn about ProActive, the deep pressure vest for autism and sensory overload
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