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Chloe Harwood, Sussex University
ARTS THREAD seeks out highlights from Product Design at this week’s New Designers show.
Chloe Harwood from Sussex University has created an utterly charming toy – The Voob, an eight octave ring sectioned into different bright colours. Each section includes a button that creates a different sensory experience. The product is aimed at children with disabilities in sight and hearing, for whom the sensory experience of the toy can give simple enjoyment. The idea is well thought out and includes important social elements that can sometimes be easily overlooked.
Thomas Holliday, University of Leeds
University of Leeds graduate Thomas Holliday’s project came from his realisation that hearing aids donated to developing countries quickly become obsolete due to a lack of replacement batteries. Thomas designed a product whereby the user can create electricity by simply walking. The small sleek device can simply be put in the pocket of the user and charges as they go about their daily activities. The idea is well thought out and if it was put into production would be a great problem solver for hearing-aid users in developing countries.
Ryan Bain, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen
Ryan Bain from Robert Gordon University Aberdeen has developed semi-permanent market stalls made from cardboard. The Pop-Up market stalls are light to carry and easy to assemble and dismantle. The design is practical and perfectly able to carry the weight of the products.
Felix Idiens, University of Brighton
Felix Idiens, a graduate of the University of Brighton, has designed a low-cost toilet, for use in large spaces such as stadiums, where their location may be temporary or semi-temporary. His product is practical and could easily be realised with a product that is easy to construct and to clean. With development, his great initial idea could be one that we see in production in years to come.
William Rodell, Northumbria University
Northumbria University’s William Rodell has designed a practical yet aesthetic bag for cyclists. The product is aimed at the recreational cyclist and enables the user to make a quick transition from cycling to walking. The bag is a thoughtful addition to the cycling product market.
Jake Naish, Huddersfield University
Huddersfield University’s Jake Naish has created an aid for people who have physical impairments, for example a broken leg. The user is given fixtures around the home in areas where they might struggle and the user caries around a specially-designed walking stick that connects to the fixtures and helps the user with mobility.
Sam Cooper, University of West England
Sam Cooper, a graduate of the University of West England has worked on a product that makes it impossible to put the wrong fuel in your car. The design enables motorists to differentiate between petrol and diesel when filling up by including a display panel on the nozzle of the pump. This technology works in tandem with the new monitoring system being rolled out across UK petrol stations whereby sensors pick up and recognise untaxed and uninsured vehicles and relay this information to the pumps that then deny the users fuel.
