Northumbria students highly commended at 2017 Design Innovation in Plastics Awards

6th July 2017

Two Design for Industry students from Northumbria University, Newcastle have collected highly commended awards in the annual Design Innovation in Plastics competition.

The competition, which is organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners, awarded highly commended prizes to Aidan Smith and Dom Tindale, who were among six finalists.

The competition brief, ‘Products for Independent Travel,’ had challenged students to design an innovative product, primarily in plastic, that will provide a more comfortable and less stressful travel experience. Entries ranged from beach skis for wheelchairs and modular backpack systems to shower boxes.

Aidan Smith, a Year 2, Design for Industry student, produced ‘Pedlock’ – a bicycle pedal with integral lock, while Dom Tindale, another Year 2 Design for Industry student, came up with ‘Skin Watch Wristband’ a product which reminds travellers to reapply sun cream to prevent sun burn.

The prestigious Design Innovation in Plastics Award is the longest running student plastics design competition in Europe, having been established in 1985. This year the event was sponsored by polymers manufacturer, Covestro.

Dom is pictured with Simon Scott-Harden, Senior Lecturer in Design for Industry and Transportation Design at Northumbria School of Design (left) and his award sponsor, Alastair Swanwick, Innovate Product Design.

Aidan is pictured with Simon Scott-Harden, Senior Lecturer in Design for Industry and Transportation Design at Northumbria School of Design (left) and his award sponsor, Richard Brown, RJG Technologies.

About ‘Pedlock’

Pedlock is a pedal with an integral lock in the form of a beam that passes between the chain and the rear wheel and is designed to replace the regular bike pedal. This is easily done as it has the same standard thread size.

About ‘Skin Watch Wristband

Wristband helps to remind travellers and holiday-goers to protect their skin. When the inner white section matches the orange colour of the outer section, suncream must be reapplied. The colour change takes place over approximately two hours and the inner section can then be reset.

For more information about Northumbria's Design for Industry BA (Hons) course please click here or come along to one of Northumbria's Open Days.