Why do I teach?

I teach Product Design, because I’m a passionate and creative Designer, who is enthusiastic about how the design can have a positive impact on people’s lives and the world around us, and I’m very keen to share this passion for Design with young designers

How I’ll teach you

I’m enthusiastic about the taught experience and ensuring all involved have an opportunity to express themselves and in doing so grow and develop as Designers

Why study…

Product Design and the way in which we interact with products as humans is an intriguing subject area. Good design, including the aesthetic, the form factor and product semantics are in incredibly important when creating and promoting a worthwhile interaction with a product.

Understanding how important good design can be when producing products that have a benefit to them, i.e. healthcare, social and educational products is something we promote on the Product Design and Technology programme, a products form and a sense of its character can have a profound effect on a person’s wellbeing.

The making of products is also an intrinsic part of the Product Design and Technology programme, we aim to ensure there is a clear understanding between the method in which a product is made, the material that is employed and the sense that this gives to the user.

Postgraduate teaching

I teach on the following post undergraduate programme:

MA/MSc Product Design

Subject areas

Product Design

My Current research is:

Human Responce to Three Dimnsion Forms

Understanding of the connections humans have with form, geometry and materials. We are currently surrounded by an increasing amount of products that poses many different arrangements of forms and geometry, some of which we find appealing and some of which we do not.

My research looks at how we can test the effects of forms on people and gain a clear knowledge of what they are actually feeling.  A sample of people are be exposed to objects in a controlled manner within a test space, they are then be observed utilising EEG sensing equipment, this gives performance metrics and
measure the brain’s cognitive and emotional states. This data is then be utilised to gain and understanding of how the object the person was exposed to made them feel.

My previous research experience has all been within industry, this includes:

Company: LINPAC - 1999 - 2003

I undertook a research project to develop a method of creating a nonslip surface for injection moulded
moveable platforms within a retail environment. The project had specific requirements for loading and also temperature. An internal test centre was set up and UKAS accredited to test the product within temperature controlled environments. The research led to the development of twin shot moulded EDM and Polypropylene structure, these were then utilised in injection moulded pallets and dollies within two major retailers - Tesco & Sainsbury’s

Whilst at LINPAC I also complete trials along with the University of Liverpool, to bond Polypropylene with
Lasers, this was required to produce strong twin skin forms for the retail sector, the final outcome used a translucent (to a laser) material and black polypropylene to produce a water tight and incredibly strong product. This was implemented in a product called the MAXIPAC, this product is now industry standard and utilised for the distribution and display of vegetables within the main high street retailers including, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Waitrose etc.

Company: Rekri8 2003 – 2007

Within the R&D department at Rekri8 I headed up a team who researched the safety of camping gas stoves and lanterns, and in particular how to stop the products from flaring and producing dangerous flames when they are knocked over into a horizontal position. The R&D team looked at regulating the gas pressure and also the liquid and vapour mix, and how to ensure that the liquid did not leak through to the burner. A solution was developed utilising a Schrader valve within the burner body, this stopped the products from producing dangerous flames when in a horizontal position, and went on to become an award winner and favourite within the family camping market

Company: Whitecroft Lighting - 2007 - 2010

I led a research team who were investigating the effect of noise pollution within an education environment.
We produced sample products that enabled us to test lighting solutions that would act as an absorption barrier and meet governments legislation for sound reverberation within secondary school environments. The products were successfully tested within an anechoic chamber, and the test data confirmed that they met the required targets and thus were utilised within open soffit ceiling types in education and healthcare environments.