Preview: UWE Bristol’s Environment and Technology Degree Show 2019

UWE Bristol’s Faculty of Environment and Technology is hosting its annual Degree Show on June 6, showcasing innovative graduate projects from across the department with a chance for visitors to speak to graduates and students about their work.

The show will take place at the university’s Frenchay Campus from 5pm to 9pm, and will be a celebration of months of hard work from a wide range of subjects.

Bristol 24/7 got had a behind the scenes preview of some of the stories behind the designs:

Emma Davies – Creative Product Design

“I’ve always been interested in creating art, I wanted to design something which would showcase my creative side within my project. I created Natural Eye, it’s a sustainable mascara which is good for both the user and the environment.”

Emma was inspired by human-centred design and realised mascara is less refined than other cosmetic products in the industry so the Natural Eye mascara enables its users to mix the ingredients themselves and put them into a refillable tube.

Emma with her ‘Natural Eye’ mascara

“It educates the user about what they’re putting onto their skin. Most people don’t realise mascara contains micro-plastics which are bad for the environment.

Emma explains her product is completely sustainable  the box is made from 100 per cent recycled card, and the mascara tube is made from cosmetic grade bio-plastic.

The product features a range of ingredients to use, as well as an interactive app

There is also an accompanying app that features instructions for mixing the product and tutorials. The app also allows the user to customize the product to their individual needs.

“After this, I definitely want to continue working on human-centred design,” she says. “I’m excited to see where this project will take me.”

George Littlefield – Creative Product Design

“I live a really active lifestyle. I’m a bit of a gym enthusiast, but I wanted to flex my creative flair with this project.”

George’s project, Urban Sprout, is a bridge between gardening and urban farming. Users can nurture a small cutting and with guidance from an app and help it transform into a full-grown plant.

George’s Urban Sprout is a creative way to nurture a plant cutting

“I wanted it to help promote a more conscious lifestyle. It allows users to take a photo of their plant, and can instantly receive advice on how to care for it properly.”

George explains that the kit comes in sustainable packaging and contains various sizes of pots, as well as a bamboo vase and compressed soil to plant the cutting in.

The entire package is made from sustainable products, including 100% recycled card and bamboo pots

“It helps promote creativity by growing a plant in such a simple way. Users can customize their packages through the app to fit their needs.”

Callum hopes to continue to test his creative abilities after his degree and find a job in product design.

Corey Ford – Creative Music Technology 

“I’ve always been a musician, but I’m also really great with computers. Choosing this course meant that I didn’t have to give up music, it’s been really helpful.”

Corey is currently developing an app to accompany Codetta

Corey wanted to use his passion for music and computer skills for his project.

“I found that teachers in primary schools didn’t feel comfortable teaching music; they don’t often come from a musical background. This meant children weren’t learning in an interactive way, so I created Codetta. It’s an interactive computer interface that allows children to learn how to compose music.”

Corey explains that the music programme allows children to learn hands-on rather than watching their teachers. The controls are made up of jigsaw shapes, which ensures children can easily learn how to operate the software in lessons.

Designed with children in mind, the program features a drag and drop gesture

“It encourages children to actively learn, and also makes the teachers feel more comfortable teaching music. I’m also creating an app so that the programme can be used remotely.”

Corey has received funding to continue his studies at UWE Bristol and will be taking a masters in Research in Data Science, developing Codetta at the same time.

Olivia Huchins – Creative Product Design

Olivia, who used to be an avid ballet dancer, wanted to showcase her background in art and textiles for her project.

“I stopped dancing three years ago, but I had been dancing pointe since age 11. The shoes are extremely painful, and I didn’t know it was possible to have a comfortable dance shoe until now. I really empathise with dancers, that’s where my inspiration has come from.”

Olivia was dancing at pointe from age 11 and wanted to help other dancers

Olivia has designed a pointe shoe called Aspire, with interchangeable blocks for varying difficulty. The project is designed for beginners to build their confidence while wearing pointe shoes.

“I wanted to make a shoe which changed with the dancer’s ability and confidence. It’s a shoe that trains you.

“It also really minimises the time it takes to break in the shoe, which is really helpful to both beginners and advanced dancers.”

Aspire features three interchangeable pointe blocks which change with the dancer’s ability

Olivia believes that if something like this was on the market when she was dancing, she may have not given up so soon.

“Ballet hasn’t ever been challenged. I want to challenge the old ways of ballet dancing, and make dancing a more positive experience.”

After her degree, Olivia hopes to take a well-deserved break from studying, while continuing to make positive changes in human-centred design.

Ben Capern – Creative Product Design

“I love freedom, that’s why I chose the course. I’ve always been a people person, and I wanted to represent that in my final project.”

For Ben’s product, Aura, he created an interactive hub which has a responsive light that indicates to users when family and friends are available to talk.

Ben with his interactive hub, Aura

“With an ageing population, there is a greater demand for care. Aura aims to encourage openness and communication through the subtle light indication. It’s not just about social isolation, it can help mental health too.”

Ben explains that he hopes it will help people physically reach out and talk. Up to ten people can be connected to one hub at a time, and it is accompanied by an app which can be used to message other users.

“It’s not a solution, but products like this help massively. There is definitely a gap in the market for a communication device like this.”

Photos courtesy of Katie Button.

UWE Bristol’s Faculty of Environment and Technology degree show takes place on June 6 from 5pm to 9pm.

To find out more about all of UWE Bristol’s 2019 degree shows at www1.uwe.ac.uk/whatson/degreeshows.aspx

Read more: UWE Bristol’s new £7m science labs