UWE opens new Education Innovation Centre - University of the ...

Leggings to improve running speed, seed saver + hand massager
feature at UWE’s design show
Final year degree projects featuring an array of innovative ideas including a hand massager for people with arthritis, leggings
designed to improve running speed and a nifty device for gardeners to save seeds were displayed at ‘Plan + Make’ earlier this
month.
‘Plan + Make’ showcased the work from five departments across the Faculty of Environment and Technology. (FET).
Kurt Gauss, Associate Head of Department, Engineering Design and Mathematics, said, “The combined work in the exhibition
showed a broad cross section of investigation and design solutions that address issues our society is facing today. The products
and services presented by our graduates demonstrate outstanding competencies in research, critical analysis, design synthesis,
brand development, service mapping, design engineering and human centred design.”
Professor Paul Olomolaiye, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of FET enthuses, “From architecture through to games
technology, mechanical engineering to product design, geography to music technology, this year ‘plan + make’ is the most
ambitious and exciting degree show we have ever had.”
Exhibits included work from final year students from the full range of courses in the Faculty of Environment and Technology.
Will Drake 4th Year Product Design
Technology
Hand massager for people
with arthritis
Will Drake and the
working model for his
hand massager
Will Drake has designed a hand
massage machine to help improve
the quality of life for people
who suffer from arthritis. He
conducted research at the Bath
Royal Hospital for Rheumatic
Diseases where he met with
health practitioners and patients
to help inform his design.
Will explains, “I discovered that
one of the most difficult times
in the day for people with acute arthritis is first thing
in the morning. At this time joints are particularly stiff
and many people say that this is the worst time of day
when they suffer the most pain in their joints.
“I have designed a hand massage device that utilizes
airbags and infra red heat to soothe aches and pains.
The unit mimics the Paraffin wax bath treatment used
in hospitals that inspired this idea, and adds a massage
element to the treatment, that also aids movement.”
Drawings for the hand massager by Will Drake
18
Aaron Colfer 4th year Creative
Product Design
The Seed Pod
The Seed Pod designed
by Aaron Colfer
Aaron Colfer has designed The
Seed Pod, a fail safe way of
enabling seed bank organisations,
allotment owners and gardeners
to preserve and store endangered
seeds from the plants that they
grow. He discovered that there is
a market for a product that allows
all seed savers, from heritage seed
banks to allotment holders, to
safely preserve seeds.
Aaron explains, “In order that seeds will germinate it is
critical that once collected they are cleaned, dried and
stored carefully. Stuffing seeds into an envelope and
storing in a garden shed in often damp conditions will risk
a seed failing to germinate but many gardeners derive
enormous pleasure from saving and sharing seeds.
“Working with Robin Probert,
who heads up seed conservation
and technology at Kew Gardens’
Millennium Seed Bank, I have come
up with a way of improving a seed
collection kit that they had devised.
“My Seed Pod design is compact
enough to store in the fridge, it
The Seed Pod
designed by Aaron
Colfer
weighs next to nothing and can be offered to the market
at a low cost. I’ve had great feedback from the people I’ve
been talking to during the research stages and I hope to
take the Seed Pod into production when I graduate.
“The Seed Pod prototype is made from co polyester which
has great thermal properties. It features an indicator
sachet that turns orange when the seeds are dry enough
to store in the fridge, a built-in lens to make it easy to
view the seeds indicator and is designed to be stackable
making storage in limited domestic fridge spaces possible.
I consider this to be a breakthrough product that will
create its own market.”