Zara’s summer just got better and better after being invited to visit the UK headquarters of DIP headline industry sponsor, Covestro.
To find out more about the visit click here.
Tag: Placements
DIP winner 2022
2nd Year Product Design student Zara King has claimed top prize in the 2022 Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition, with a re-usable bedpan.
DIP, supported by The Worshipful Company of Horners, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and headline sponsored by Covestro, is the longest running plastics design competition of its kind for university undergraduates in the UK and Ireland.
Students were asked to design a product made primarily of plastics, for the healthcare sector, which can be used in demanding applications, but which also exploits the longevity of plastics.
Zara designed EasyMode, a re-usable bedpan for a pulp liner to fit inside, providing a safe and comfortable base for people to use in any healthcare setting. The bedpan is moulded with a wide base so that it sits comfortably into the bed and presses down into the mattress, and when the patient is rolled off, it doesn’t tip.
Zara designed the product after hearing first hand from a nurse about the awkwardness of using existing bedpans, and the distress it often causes.
“She impressed the judges with her methodical approach to solving a major problem in the NHS,” he said. “Her holistic approach incorporated both user and patient issues, to come up with a solution which met both needs. She gave due consideration to sustainability, manufacturing and the materials used and has registered this product as her intellectual property, so that it is market ready, should she want to take it forward.”
Zara said: “Since entering this competition, I have enjoyed every moment, especially the thought of helping people with a product I’ve designed. Healthcare is definitely a field I’d like to stay involved in. This is one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Zara received a £1,000 cash prize, a placement with a DIP sponsor an invitation to the Lord Mayor’s Banquet as a guest of the Worshipful Company of Horners. Zara will also be given a year’s membership to the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining (IOM3).
Ben traces his journey to Dyson
Ben Russi, 25, who graduated from Teesside’s BA (Hons) Product Design and Industrial Transportation in 2012, is now working as a Design Engineer with Dyson, the company best known for it’s revolutionary vacuum cleaner design.
Originally from Saltburn, Ben, a former student at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough, met with students currently working on design projects as part of their degree studies.
He said: ‘I studied at Teesside University largely as it was so highly recommended to me by my college lecturer. It gave me a great grounding in product design and helped me to make up my mind about what I wanted to do.
‘It’s been great meeting the students and telling them about my journey since studying at Teesside and it’s been really good to speak to them about their own projects and ideas.
‘I really enjoyed my time at Teesside, so it’s been great to return and see all the reminders of being a student here. Speaking to the students too is a great reminder that just a few years ago I was one of them myself.’
Ben, who is now based in Wiltshire, joined Dyson in 2014 as a Graduate Design Engineer before moving into the role of Design Engineer.
He said: ‘It’s a great place to work, I’m inspired every day. The degree at Teesside helped to give me the confidence to apply and push for a role with such an innovative company.’
‘Teething’ My Way into Industry
In the summer I conducted a 3 month internship as a junior designer with Jackel International under the Tommee Tippee brand. In the position I was given the opportunity to work with industry professionals in an in-house design department. In the role I was given the opportunity to develop design ideas for the company in a number of ways, working by myself in producing baby products and generating detailed research to support and show marketing teams the reasoning for the developed designs. I also worked with and alongside my colleagues to produce products for toddlers creating detailed sketch work, analysis and research to which we presented to groups from marketing, sales, quality control and manufacturing.
My time working in the position has allowed me to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the work that is conducted in a real life industry standard design company. The enthusiastic, fun and friendly team I worked alongside have all contributed to my understanding and further knowledge of industrial design. I will take away this knowledge and apply it to the work I conduct in the future hoping to develop my skills to help me secure that dream job.
Owen Wright
3rd Year Product Design
Designers with a conscience
2nd year product design students, Stephen Mounser and Martins Elert, had their hard work rewarded at the Creative Conscience Awards 2014. Stephen received a bronze award for his design concept for an artificial coral reef that helps speed up coral growth and aids biodiversity. Martins’ design for portable solar stoves created specifically for use in refugee camps was highly commended.
Last week Martins, along with design tutor Peter Reid, attended the high profile event in London to pick up the awards. Stephen unfortunately could not attend as he is currently working in America.
The awards are judged by eminent people from the design industry such as Sebastian Conran, John Mathers, Ian Callum and Wayne Hemingway to name but a few. So Martins and Peter were in good company.
Stephen’s and Martins’ entries can be viewed here:
http://www.creative-conscience.co.uk/home/the-winners-2014/
Martins is currently working on a summer placement at Solo Ti, world leaders in the design, development and manufacture of thermal imaging equipment. This was on the back of a successful ‘live’ project carried out by students for the company during the year as part of the Product Design programme.
Ireland abounds…
Product Design graduates Anna Staples and Emma Braham applied for European Placements and both ended up working in Cork, Ireland, on three month internship schemes.
Anna has been working for a company called Quay Designs who upcycle furniture and sell it on in their own shop. Anna says:
“I am really enjoying working at Quay Designs because its allowing me to have a hands on approach with all the furniture, see how timber and oak is treated, we get a lot of different styles of furniture in, art deco and 50s kind of stuff. It’s actually ideal for me at the moment. I also get to see what styles of furniture are on trend and what colours are on trend also.”
Emma has been working for Air Dryer Systems Ltd in their new product development department. Emma says:
“The experience has been really good, working on products to extend their current range”
Anna is hoping to extend her stay in Ireland for a further 3 months, whilst Emma has since secured a new position back in England.
Adam secures European Placement
Product Design graduate Adam Allport has recently secured a 13 week placement with a design company called ‘Loudmark’ in the beautiful city of Prague. Adam applied for the placement through Accentuate. Accentuate is funded by the EU to provide placements in Europe for currently unemployed (or under employed) graduates based in the NE of England. Each placement is 13 weeks long and is located in one of 3 major cities – Prague, Seville and Cork.
‘The loudmark is a creative agency from Prague manned and directed by Jakub Zagar. The main focus is on unique design experience in the latest trends with the strong accent on client’s current needs.’
Adam has just posted on our Facebook page and although he is only 3 weeks into the placement it looks as though there may be a permanent position at the end of it , which would be great.