Concept sketch for a desk tidy by Ellen Grindle
British office furniture manufacturer Bisley recently presented a design brief to Creative Product Design students at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol. Blueprint and British designer Richard Shed were asked to participate as external judges in the crits.
As well as encouraging students to explore new ideas and possibilities for office storage, the brief also specified that the solution should be made from a single sheet of steel and so students were asked to consider both the design and manufacturing process.
The challenging brief was preceded by a visit to the Bisley’s Newport plant in early April in order to inspire the student and also offer them the opportunity to get a detailed look at the high-speed flat-sheet coating line capable of applying a finish to pre-punched steel.
Concept sketches for a portable storage unit by Dean O'Callaghan
After a concept presentation in late April during which each student was asked to present three ideas, the students submitted their final proposal to a judging panel, which included their course tutors Doug Barber and David Ames, as well as Bisley’s design director John Fogarty and marketing services manager Bruce Whitfield, designer Richard Shed and Blueprint.
Concept model for a hanging storage solution by Rob Masterson
Beyond the office environment, some of the ideas presented by the students were also proposing solutions to fit a home-office environment, and for the storing of personal work documents when desk sharing.
In the upcoming weeks the judging panel will select a winner and two highly commendable projects. The winner will be awarded an internship at Bisley’s design office and their project will then be prototyped.
Concept sketches for a hide away storage unit by Richard Pearce
Bisley, which was recently awarded an honourable mention for its mobile storage office unit Bite in the prestigious international Red Dot Design Award 2010, will be unveiling new products in October at the office furniture fair Orgatec in Cologne.
Full coverage on the Bisley and UWE collaboration will be featured in the September issue of Blueprint.
