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# Lichfield student designs hat to help prevent injury during seizures
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/lichfield-student-designs-hat-to-help-prevent-injury-during-seizures/
- Published: 2021-07-13T06:24:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-07-10T14:16:12.000Z
- Description: A Lichfield student who developed epilepsy after receiving treatment for a brain tumour has designed a hat to protect others from head injuries when they experience a seizure.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Education, Health, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:15, News

A Lichfield student who developed epilepsy after receiving treatment for a brain tumour has designed a hat to protect others from head injuries when they experience a seizure.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/img_20210710_170728.jpg)

Owen Sutton wearing the hat he developed

Owen Sutton created the insert from smart materials as part of his product design course at Nottingham Trent University.

The 22-year-old developed the prototype from Poron XRD – a material which absorbs more than 90% of energy when impacted at high strain rates.

His design comes after suffering seizures following an operation to remove a tumour from his own brain, one of which caused him to bang his head.

Owen said he wanted to buy a seizure hat for his own use but found nothing which he felt was wearable and discrete.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/img_20210710_171138.jpg)

The inside of the hat

> “Most seizure hats look painfully obvious to the outside world that they’re for medical reasons.  
>  
> “When you consider that wearing one is completely optional, there’s no way we will ever see a huge take-up of them if people feel self-conscious. I would personally hate to wear one in a restaurant, for instance, and have everyone staring at me.  
>  
> “People I have spoken to, as part of my research, found that they were treated differently by members of the public when wearing one.  
>  
> “Some felt that people acted cautiously around them – no one wants that experience.  
>  
> “I’m convinced there’s a better solution. By improving the appearance of a seizure hat, so it appears for all intents and purposes like an ordinary hat, it will increase uptake and help more people with epilepsy feel safer.”  
>  
> Owen Sutton

Owen designed his working prototype for Nottingham Trent University’s Summer Show, which will see graduating artists and designers displaying their work as part of an [online public exhibition](http://www.ntudesignindustries.com/?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk).

Richard Malcolm, lecturer in product design at Nottingham Trent University, said: 

> “Owen has taken his personal experience of a serious medical condition and used it to fill an apparent gap in the market and help other people.  
>  
> “He’s created a product which will enable people with epilepsy to feel less self-conscious when wearing a seizure hat. In turn, that may increase the uptake of such products and improve people’s safety by preventing serious head injuries.  
>  
> “He’s created a product which will enable people with epilepsy to feel less self-conscious when wearing a seizure hat.  
>  
> “In turn, that may increase the uptake of such products and improve people’s safety by preventing serious head injuries.”  
>  
> Richard Malcolm