An interactive book that distracts children from feared needle procedures and a refillable wash kit for the homeless feature in our latest school show by students at Nottingham Trent University.

The show also includes a redesigned first aid kit, aiming to build user's confidence in managing injuries and a collection of sculptural desk items to combat the daily aches and pains of sitting at a desk.

Nottingham Trent University

School: Nottingham Trent University, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Courses: BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design, BA (Hons) Product Design and BSc (Hons) Product Design
Tutors: Dr Rebecca Gamble, James Dale, Chris Lamerton, Fiona Davidson, Grant Baker and Dr Joseph Stewart

School statement:

"The Product Design courses at Nottingham Trent University support students to develop a thorough understanding of the needs of users, markets and manufacturers to innovate, develop and test their designs from the first preliminary sketch through to the manufacture of fully functional prototypes.

"Our studio-based culture shapes a collaborative learning environment in which students develop their style, vision and philosophy, designing goods, systems, services, furniture, homeware and technology to enrich our everyday lives. This year we celebrate our graduates' work in a curated virtual exhibition, design process film and digital brochures. It will launch on our NTU Design Industries website on 1 July."

HUDL by Jack Buttling

"HUDL is a multifunctional seating solution designed for multi-purpose spaces in a hostel or boutique hotel environment. Socialising and meeting new people is essential when exploring and travelling the world, and HUDL encourages first encounters and opportunities to share stories. HUDL is made up of four floor seated chairs and a low table.

"The chairs can also be positioned on the table in multiple orientations to provide either a private or intimate seating area. Designed for longevity, HUDL is made from solid ash and cushioned with a cork seat. It has subtle angles incorporated through both elements of the design."

Student: Jack Buttling
Course:  BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Neap by Lauren Dyer

"Neap is a sustainable furniture range made from an innovative seaweed-based material, Aligte. The design aims to change the linear relationship with materials that we see in the design industry today. It focuses on seasonality with the spring, summer and autumn furniture pieces each made out of different seaweed species. This harvesting rotation allows the species to not only recover but also prosper.

"The Neap range was created to showcase Algite and prove that seasonality can be considered throughout commercial furniture design. It combines sustainability with high quality and an underlying focus on tackling material exploitation and the environmental degradation that comes from this."

Student: Lauren Dyer
Course: BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design
Email: [email protected]

The Potters Chair by Darcy Hill

"The Potters Chair is a chair for makers. After delving into pottery during her placement year (and during lockdown) Darcy Hill decided to combine her new skillset with furniture design. The main function of this chair is to work alongside a potter's wheel. The seat and frame are not connected, enabling the seat to be positioned on different tilts, allowing the potter to sit in a better position when throwing.

"The seat is made from oak, each strut of the frame is turned, the backrest is laminated, with small brass features and a ceramic coin which allows the potter to put their own makers mark on the chair. The organic-shaped seat has been cut on the CNC, and it is all finished with white oil which brings out its grain in a beautifully subtle way."

Student: Darcy Hill
Course: BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Polish Folklor by Wiktoria Kijowska

"Polish Folklor is a collection of floral vases inspired by the traditional Polish folk craft of cut-outs from Łowicz. As the patterns found in this craft have been popularised and placed on consumer goods, their history and meaning have been forgotten.

"These vibrant vases celebrate and unveil its forgotten history. They include changeable front and back panels with a universal middle vessel. The vases can be displayed together to create the full story about the cut-outs from Łowicz or separately to suit the user's needs."

Student: Wiktoria Kijowska
Course: BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Guaro by Chris Barnes

"Guaro (Gw-ar-o) is a breathalyser that has been designed for social environments, encouraging people and their friends to behave responsibly when it comes to drink-driving. Whether in the home, for social gatherings such as dinner parties or public spaces such as bars and restaurants.

"Guaro's design removes the uncomfortable, authoritative experience of using a breathalyser and creates a more acceptable, friendly and social activity. This approach encourages the user to consider their actions and make the right decision."

Student: Chris Barnes
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

YOU by Emily Hill

"With many people now working from home and desk spaces often being uncomfortable, many are left feeling uncomfortable at the end of the day. YOU is a collection of sculptural desk items created to combat the daily aches and pains of sitting at a desk all day.

"The collection items do not look like typical exercise equipment but instead offer a more sculptural and artistic design, allowing the products to stay as a permanent feature on the user's desk.

"The collection consists of a resistance band, a two-kilogram split weight, a handheld foam roller and a USB cone-shaped light to use as a timer. This cone is linked to the collection's website, which offers calendar reminders and workout activities."

Student: Emily Hill
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Sensei by Kavya Jain

"Sensei is a range of tactile tapes to make interior spaces more accessible and inclusive for visually impaired and blind people. These tapes provide tactile feedback to the user. Each graphic depicts a particular room or location and can be placed on the walls or floors, helping them sense their surroundings and navigate safely.

"The range aims to provide ease to parents who want to make their home a safe environment, to improve dignity for the elderly who struggle with visual impairment at a later stage of life and to provide independence to anyone with vision impairments."

Student: Kavya Jain
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Love Guide by Anastasia Klimova

"Women aged 16–25 are three times more likely to become victims of relationship abuse, and 70 per cent of college-aged women did not realise they were in an abusive relationship. There is a gap between young people's lived experiences and preventative information that could save them from trauma.

"Love Guide is a charity that provides a safe and accessible digital space where young people can get relationship advice from like-minded peers known as guides. Love Guide connects young people to someone who understands them and who can share real-life experiences and relevant information from reliable sources. Although primarily targeted at young women, it is also designed to appeal to all genders and sexual orientations."

Student: Anastasia Klimova
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

HANi by Shenese Newton

"HANi is a hands-free, refillable, auto-dispensing antibacterial gel that can be clipped onto a bag or apparel for personal on-the-go use or to a magnetic surface for static use. Inspired by changes in the perception of hygiene behaviour from Covid-19, HANi aims to reduce germ transmission through contact when searching inside pockets or bags for hand sanitiser, focusing particularly on the daily commuter and key workers.

"The unit features a removable magnetic clip to attach it to a pocket, belt, or bag, which permits the adjustment of the unit's position in 45-degree increments so the product can be upright no matter where it is placed. Additionally, the unit can be placed on magnetic surfaces like a fridge or filing cabinet. HANi aids in convenient, efficient, and attractive hygiene practice for the pandemic and beyond."

Student: Shenese Newton
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Patch by Stephen Oyadiran

"The design of first aid kits has remained the same for almost 80 years, and only five per cent of the UK population have been educated on how to treat an injury. Current preconceptions of first aid, paired with the lack of knowledge or confidence in first aid ability, deter people from owning or using kits.

"Patch redesigns the first aid experience. It brings clarity, organisation, confidence and a refreshing 'homely' appeal to the current outdated first aid kit. The brand, product and information aim to build trust and confidence with users to create a better relationship with injury management."

Student: Stephen Oyadiran
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

The Big Brave Guide by Letitia Smith

"The Big Brave Guide to intravenous cannulation aims to distract children from feared needle procedures, creating a smoother experience for all involved. Through honesty and encouraging interaction, the Big Brave Guide aims to tackle the 30 per cent first-time failure rate, saving the National Health Service time and money.

"The product includes an interaction book that explains the procedure to the child, whilst simultaneously distracting them. It uses child-friendly language and fun dialogue. The child is encouraged to pick a character to guide them through the story, moving it along the way. Once the IV needle has been placed, it is secured with an IV sleeve. If the child completes the procedure, they can move their character onto their sleeve and take it home as a reward."

Student: Letitia Smith
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

ClearKit by Sam Travis

"ClearKit is a hard-wearing and long-lasting refillable wash kit that encourages a thorough, consistent daily wash routine to help the homeless stay healthy and feel comfortable. It aims to help break potential negative prejudices against a disadvantaged user group and create a positive experience that allows humanise and uplift the homeless.

"If contents become empty or worn, users are encouraged to return to 'refill points' at their charity, shelter or church to replenish. Bottles are designed to be easily refillable, deodorant sticks can be replaced, and razors and toothbrushes have removable ends that can be recycled and replaced.

"Not only does this reduce waste, it also creates a support touchpoint by encouraging regular contact between vulnerable users and charity workers, providing more opportunities for help."

Student: Sam Travis
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Pebble by Amelia Walburn

"Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 30 per cent of yearly sickness absence in the National Health Service was related to work-related stress, equating to £300-400 million spent annually on stress-related absences. In total 45 per cent of 1,000 doctors and nurses (surveyed across the UK) reported experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, burnout or other mental health conditions relating to or made worse by the pandemic.

"Pebble is a digital, modernised ‘nursing watch’ which includes break reminders, hydration prompts and wellbeing insights which are often forgotten about when healthcare staff are working long hours or under stressful conditions. Pebble aims to reduce their work stresses and enhance mental health and wellbeing of staff in hospitals which would improve morale and the quality of care they give to patients."

Student: Amelia Walburn
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

ACTiv by Alex Williams

"ACTiv is a positive expiratory pressure device for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients that motivates and encourages greater participation in group or individual sports and their associated physical and mental health benefits. The product aims to provide a convenient and discrete carry case that is easy to transport and use while active.

"Though key design features are discretion and easy concealment, the ACTiv brand also facilitates 'accessorizing', giving users a more fashionable and aesthetically pleasing experience.

"The product set includes education and information assets to enable broader community knowledge and understanding of CF, promoting support and empathy for the daily challenges faced by those living with the condition."

Student: Alex Williams
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

PLCE Integrated Daysack by Alex Field

"This project seeks to understand how British soldiers interact with the equipment issued to them, what features they value most, and how best they can utilise what they have in a combat situation.

"The research highlighted that the integrated daysack that works with the Personal Load Carrying Equipment model (PLCE) issued in Bergen is a fundamental 'pain point' for serving soldiers. It often leads to servicewomen and men replacing them with expensive civilian brand packs unnecessarily.

"Designed for use in military training establishments and marketed to the MOD - this project aims to improve the current integrated daypack solution to the PLCE Bergen. By acting as the larger Bergen's lid, this daypack looks to speed up the process of reacting to changes in circumstance - allowing soldiers to shave precious time and administrate themselves more effectively."

Student: Alex Field
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Email: [email protected]

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Nottingham Trent University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.