Product Design
Alex Heath, 2008
Alex was motivated by his interest in
science fiction to produce a miniature
model for use in the creation of CGI special
effects. The model is designed to be used
as a reference for computer animators in
film production. In particular, animators
would use the model as a reference point
for lighting and texture. Alex's model was
inspired by the animated Japanese
television series Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The series is due to be made into a liveaction
feature film for which Alex's piece
would be a working model.
Katy Porter, 2008
Katy designed a sailing jacket and watch for a boat race crew incorporating technology to improve performance, teamwork and safety onboard. The jacket has built in radio communication and Bluetooth to connect to a mobile phone. It has high visibility glow in the dark material for sailing in darker weather conditions and at night, and also improving the chances of being seen if thrown overboard.
The watch can be clipped onto the outside of the jacket or onto a wrist-strap, and connects wirelessly to an onboard system to give the user the current boat statistics – eg. wind speed and direction, boat speed, direction and water depth. Each crew member can flick through the stats as and when they need them in relation to their job role on board. It also provides an onboard Bluetooth connection that alerts the crew to anyone thrown overboard when the connection is broken.
The growing use of wearable technology led me to look at its use in different outdoor sports and where it is yet to be used. Support of the project by sailing-wear company Gill led me to researching that area and the project and my ideas carried on from there
Laurent Hongisto, 2008
Laurent created two pieces of work - a
mood-light/atmospheric chandelier aimed
for use in commercial buildings and
a ‘tuned’ USB cable designed to take the
form a bracelet. The chandelier is derived
from icicles and natural shapes found in
Nordic countries. When creating the USB
bracelet, Laurent wanted to give ordinary -
and perhaps overlooked - objects new
meaning through design, turning a purely
functional object into a fashion item. The
USB can be used to recharge your mobile
from your laptop while travelling, transfer
pictures from your camera or use as a data
cable for a portable hard drive. Laurent
was inspired by toys and retro gadgets.
Phil Bridge, 2008
Phil has constructed a bicycle from
recyclable cardboard to support the
principle of how cheap and ecologically
sound this form of transport is. It is aimed
at the whole population to encourage
people to think about using a bike. It is
essentially a marketing gimmick to capture
the imagination of the public but Phil has
built a prototype with recyclable tyres that
could actually be ridden. The project
stresses the potential for companies to
produce lightweight inexpensive bikes that
reduced the risk of theft, which could
ultimately put people off buying one.
Pip Bower, 2008
Pip has created some simple and attractive
children's play equipment from stackable
and interchangeable pieces of foam that
can create dens, chairs, cars, planes and
anything else children can imagine and
experiment with. Oversized buttons and
pegs add to the fun for children aged four
to seven and aim to be an alternative to the
majority of electronic toys available. Pip
wanted to recreate the more traditional
aspects of play for young children where
they can create their own personal spaces
with safe versatile pieces.
Sam Crosland, 2008
Sam has designed a range of household electronic products which are inspired by, and yet contradict the technologically led, boxlike, market driven products that overflow the home and give a mistaken sense of luxury. The main feature of the range is to inspire empathy within the user. To create character within inanimate objects and providing a fun, progressive alternative to other products.
He also produced a 'twist' (pun very much intended) on the plain lemon squeezer. Though a somewhat trivial product the humble lemon squeezer appears in many guises, yet most are flawed in some respects. I've produced a squeezer that keeps the juice off the user's hands and that is easy to clean. It also utilizes the already proven methods of squeezing lemons.
Most of his work spawns from observing design in a cynical and satirical way. There is room for a small amount of playful fun throughout most of design. So Sam's work is based around things that are wrong with design as a whole but are a playful way to point these out.
Tim Jones, 2008
Current scuba diving equipment is heavy, complicated and poorly designed so I decided to look at creating a better solution to this problem.
Amphibian is new and improved scuba diving equipment aimed at beginner or novice divers who wish to sample diving. The equipment is designed so that the beginner diver needs very little training and understanding of the equipment.It not only benefits the novice diver but it also is designed to aid the instructor and make it easier for them to take out and control a group of complete amateurs.
Features like the dial on the divers back help the instructor as he can look towards a group of divers and be able to absorb the relevant information about the air they have remaining in their tanks. The equipment is designed to be lightweight, stylish and very easy to use. New materials have helped the designed process with a new ultra light diving tank supplying the air. This is made from a mixture of aluminium and carbon fibre.
Laurent Beurriand, 2007
Nomad
Hifi Speakers – My starting point
was to find a new use of ceramic
for the RSA design competition.
In my project the ceramic is
used for its aesthetic and
acoustic properties. The rigidity
of ceramics enhances the
frequency of the sounds.
Moreover my product use a new
sound diffusion system which
diffuse sound on 360° thanks to
ceramic discs. However, this
hi-fi speaker is not just new
materials in an old context but
extends the use of a new material,
finding new decorative potential
and replaces the black box that
sits in the corner of a room. It is
a nomad speaker for inside and
outside but especially an object
of seduction and desire.
Aurelie Richard, 2007
Well-being is
often associated with health,
through food, medicine or
alternative therapies. Every day
we can create a sense of
well-being simply by having
a rest or using products that
help us feel positive emotions.
So I proposed a fragrant secret
garden made of five different
fragrant plastic seeds that you
can use at home or at work.
The secret garden is just a little
help in the busy daily life – it can
be shared and makes a great
gift. The choice of seed gives
birth to new feelings, thanks to
the perfumes’ power, to tone,
calm, relax and give
confidence. It is also a way of
creating a ritual during the day
by associating each seed to a
part of the day.
Jason Fernandes, 2007
The Rize Baby Buggy is the only kind in the baby transport market. Many parents
don’t like to use public changing facilities for their babies. So I went on to design a buggy that goes an
extra step further and incorporates an aesthetically pleasing ‘baby changing unit’. The seat rises along
a central gas strut, allowing the seat to transform into a flat surface, to give easy access for the parent
to change the nappy and clothing. With a roll of hygienic changing paper that can be extended over the
seat, the buggy is kept clean during the mucky procedure. ‘Rize’ also incorporates a mesh fabric for the seat that is ergonomically shaped to give the child good
back posture, comfortable seating as well as a cool breeze on those hot summer days in the park.
However it does come with a cushioned seat attachment to give extra warmth on a cold winter’s day.
