I think design should be emotive and playful and I try to bridge the gap between industrial design and self-expression with my work.
Jonathan Chapman and his approach to emotionally durable design has been a big influence on me.
Can you tell us about your final year project?
This year I’ve been looking at applying the Biopsychosocial Model of Health to medical products, which basically means considering the psychological and social factors that affect one’s wellbeing.
As a result, I’ve designed an asthma inhaler that blows bubbles. It’s called Unwind and it uses bubbles to achieve three things:
1) To allow the user to celebrate the magic of their breath being almost instantly restored from the medicine.
2) To associate asthma with the positive connotations of bubbles and challenge the negative stigma associated with the illness.
3) To improve user adherence: upon the release of the asthma medicine, Unwind’s bubble wand appears and begins a timed rotation. This narrates the correct medicine retention time to the user. Once the bubble wand reaches its resting position the user exhales through it and produces a stream of bubbles.
How have you found studying Product Design at Brighton?
I find Brighton to be a very creatively inspiring town and this has translated directly into my university experience. When I compare our product design course to other universities, I realise how unique the course is in its ability to let you really choose your own brief and design something that you are passionate about.
What are your plans after graduation?
The plan for next year is to pursue a design project I started with some course mates a few years ago. It’s a device that enables paralysed individuals to paint. It’s called the enAball and I really want to see it get to market!