Product Design Blog

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Jonathan Ive introduces the New Apple MacBook

Jonathan, or Jony as it seems the Industrial Design God now likes to call himself, introduces the new MacBook in this great little video from Apple.

Once again, Mr Ive has put Product/Industrial Design on the lips of the man/woman on the high street, nice one!

(Posted: 17th October 2008)

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Using Colour Effectively for Graphic and Product Design

Murray Lippiatt (BA(Hons) Product Design Yr3) spotted a book that he thought was worth a mention here on the blog. Its called “Colour Index” by Jim Krause. It covers how to use colour and colour combinations effectively for Graphic Design and Product Design. Might be worth a look.

 

(Posted: 1st September 2008)

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Congratulations Mark!!! 2008 Northern Design Champion!!!

Our very own Mark Adair, Graduate of this years BA (Hons) Product Design is the 2008 Northern Design Champion after picking up the top prize at this year’s Northern Design Competition awards ceremony at Headingley Carnegie.

Mark Collecting his Award from Trevor Baylis

Marks winning design for a lightweight, eco-friendly airline seat for Virgin Atlantic designed to be much lighter than existing airline seats, reduces the weight of aircraft by up 30%, saving on fuel and reducing carbon emissions. The seat also uses sustainable materials and ‘green’ production methods to ensure it is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Mark said, “I am absolutely gob smacked to win this prestigious prize. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best design talents in the North and realise that good design isn’t just found in London .”

Well done Mark!!

For more details, click here

(Posted: 26th June 2008)

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Sarah’s Wheelie Good Idea!

Sarah Williams, one of our graduating BSc(Hons) Design Technology students who has been selected for the New Designers Exhibition has been showcasing her idea on the BBC local news. Click on the image below to see the video: -

Well done Sarah, let’s hope the offers come flooding in to develop the idea.

(Posted: 17th June 2008)

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Derby Product Design to be Showcased (again!) in newdesign Magazine!

With New Designers fast approaching, our Product Design courses are again to be showcased in newdesign Magazine with some nice examples of our current student work from the first and second years, including a stylish Industrial Design for a BT phone, a sports wheelchair, a concept chair and a Russell Hobbs kettle design: -

It’ll be in the shops in the next couple of weeks just in time for New Designers!

(Posted: 13th June 2008)

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Attention all Wannabe Jonathan Ives, iPhone 3G is here!

OK, so as Product Designers we shouldn’t pray too much at the alter of Mr Ive, but hey, the new iPhone is almost here. Still only a 2 megapixel camera (boo!) and Steve Job’s discribes the black plastic back face as a plus point (as an Industrial Designer, I must say the metal backed iPhone original is much nicer, this is clearly just a cost saver).

Already got my name down for one with O2 though, say one thing, do another…..

(Posted: 11th June 2008)

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Derby Product Design Facebook Group

OK, so its been around for a while, but its worth a mention here anyway. Derby Product Design has a Facebook group. Click on the link below and join up now!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5706327997 

(Posted: 19th May 2008)

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Rod’s on Channel 5’s Gadget Show!

Second year Design Technology Student Rod Gritten will be appearing on Channel 5’s Gadget Show (http://gadgetshow.five.tv/) on 21st April at 8pm.

 

Rod was asked to help Presenter Jason Bradbury design a portable USB storage device. More pictures are available on Rod’s Wiki page at  http://rjgritten.wikidot.com/ Well done Rod!

(Posted: 10th April 2008)

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Derby Product Design Students take initiative shock!

Derby Product Design students Rod Gritten, Ashley Parker and Stuart Winkless took the initiative this week and visited Matthew Stevenson of Reef One at his head office in Norwich.

Not only did the guys get to talk to the design team there and check out some of Reef One’s latest products, but Matt also treated them to a big pub lunch! Nice one Matt!

So whats stopping the rest of you? Get out there and talk to industry!

(Posted: 22nd February 2008)

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Sir Richard Branson opens our new Arts, Design & Technology Building

Today we had a visit from Sir Richard Branson who came to officially open our new Arts, Design & Technology building.

It was a great day for Product Design as Sir Richard spoke at length to some of our successful graduates, namely Matthew Stevenson who created the Reef One Fish Tank  (www.reef-one.com), Amin Ismail who’s translation device for British soldiers is now nearing production with Civil Defence Supply (www.civil-defence.org) and Gemma Maddocks who now works as a designer for Atkins Rail.

Sir Richard Arrives in Style!

 

Amin Ismail demonstrates his translation device prototype to Sir Richard

Matthew Stevens talks to Sir Richard about his Reef One Fish Tank

 

Gemma Maddocks talks to Sir Richard about her position, designing train interiors for Atkins Rail.

Lucinda Richardson (First year BA (Hons) Product Design) & Sarah Willams (Third year BSc (Hons) Design Technology) collected the Design Challenge from Sir Richard on behalf of the Faculty. 

Thanks to Sir Richard for coming to open our building and we hope to build links with the Virgin brand for projects in the future.

(Posted: November 2nd 2007)

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You can take the boy out of Product Design!!

How does the saying go? You can take the boy out of product design, but you can’t take product design out of the boy! Just got back from my holiday in NYC and while I was there I just had to pop into the Apple store opposite the Plaza and have a look at the new iPhone that we poor Brits can’t get yet.

OK, the store has been there for a while now, but the glass cube is still very impressive (can’t believe they got planning permission for it on the corner of the park though!). It’s open 24/7 which is cool, but no matter what time you go in you can’t get near the computers because there’s kids playing internet games!

Anyway, the iPhone, its pretty impressive and the interface works really smoothly, and video looks excellent running on full screen. I’d say the screen looks as good as the PSP.

 

The only problem I found is the usual PDA/Phone problem. You have to navigate to the phone and keypad, which is a pain in the ass when you want to make a quick call, as I find with my O2 XDA Orbit. But no doubt you can set it up for the keyboard to be active when you unlock (Apple interface desigers are pretty smart). Well done (again) Jonathan Ive, gis a job!!!

(Posted: August 1st 2007)

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I’m trying out the new Sinclair A-Bike, not sure that I like it!

A friend of mine that’s into Product Design gadgets as much as I am has lent

me a Sinclair A-Bike to test.

First impressions are not good on the riding front, but the Sinclair design as with the Zike has some lovely touches. Its just a shame that it rides like a bike that was developed for a Dubai airport, or a massive house with really flat marble floors, not the pot holed roads of conjested London.

So I’ll be sticking to the Smart car for the commute! Although if Derby Uni doesn’t get some Smart car parking at the new building, I’m buying a bloody Hummer!

(Posted: 23rd July 2007)

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My Second Article for newdesign Magazine is out now!

I’ve written my second article for newdesign magazine this month and it’s

featured in their New Designers Exhibition section.

You can download the article in PDF format from the magazines website at www.newdesignmagazine.co.uk The article is about Amin Ismail, his major project and how the University welcomes overseas students.

(Posted: 17th July 2007)

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We’re Back at the New Designers!!!

We’re at the New Designers exhibition in Islington again this year, so check out the Photo’s of our stand and students work on our New Designers page. Also there will be a video blog of the show.

(Posted: 12th July 2007)

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Leaflet for Product Design at the New Designers ‘07

I’ve just finished the leaflet to promote our courses at the New Designers exhibition

this year and I must say I’ve very happy with it. Let’s hope it comes back from the

printers in time!

(Posted: 4th July 2007)

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Photoshoot for New Designers Students Models

Today we had a photoshoot for our six students who are going to the New Designers

exhibition in Islington, London. Only two models turned up, its an understatement

to say I was disappointed. Check out some of the images of the two models on the

Student Work page.

(Posted: 3rd July 2007)

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I thought it was just Derby Students who were like this!

Here’s a lovely little animation about procrastination that I saw in a

cinema in San Francisco that made me think of my students, and me.

Check out the rest of his stuff at www.ingredientx.com

(Posted: 19th June 2007)

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Product Design Projects Featured in newdesign Magazine

Some of the projects from this years Product Design Degree Show are featured in the next edition of newdesign Magazine Graduate Showcase, on sale soon. Well done guys!

(Posted: 13th June 2007)

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We’re all over the News!!!

Today (31st May 2007) we were visited by Soldiers from 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment at the new Markeaton Street site as well as members of the press to showcase Amin Ismail’s Translation Device.

We have received great coverage thanks to the Press Association and the BBC as well as the Newspapers. Have a look at some of the links below: -

Kuwait News Agency:-

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1749914&Language=en

Sky News: -http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1268229,00.html

Channel 4: -

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/translation+device+for+iraq+troops/538347

BBC East Midlands: -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6700000/newsid_6708600/6708689.stm?bw=bb&mp=wmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6700000/newsid_6708600/6708689.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm

University of Derby: -

http://www.derby.ac.uk/press-office/news-archive/adt-degree-shows-07-jaw-jaw-better-than-war-war

The Telegraph: -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/31/nwatch131.xml

The Guardian: -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6672400,00.html

The Daily Express: -

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/8405/Translation+device+for+Iraq+troops

AOL (America Online): -

http://news.aol.co.uk/translation-device-for-iraq-troops/article/20070530215709990010

Excite: -

http://news.excite.co.uk/uk/35792

Ministry of Defence: -

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/TranslationDeviceCouldHelpSaveLivesInIraq.htm

It will also be on the TV news this evening. Great PR for your courses I think!

(Posted: 31st May 2007)
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Media Focus on Derby Product Design 2007

Thursday 31st May 2007 should be a big day for Product Design at the University of Derby. Amin Ismail’s project for translating English into Arabic for British Soldiers in Iraq is being showcased to the media at the new Markeaton Street site.

Members of the national and local press have been invited to see Amin’s work as well as Soldiers and Commanding Officiers from the 4th Battalion: The Parachute Regiment.

(Posted on : 30th May 2007)

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Degree Show 2007

Yep, its that time of year again, Degree Show time. We’re currently getting ready for our big show, which from a Product Design point of view means the lecturers are at full speed painting boards for our students to put work on and our students are nowhere to be seen!

Hopefully it will all come together OK and look better than last years show, which is alway my main aim. So far, the presentation boards (or posters as they are called here, which I don’t like as a title for them) that I have seen look pretty good, possibly because they’re had a little Karl magic added to them (discuss!). But I’ve only seen about five, where the hell is everyone!!

(Posted: 30th May 2007)

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