Brunel University London’s flagship design exhibition Made in Brunel is back on the South Bank until 16 June, showcasing the innovative new products created by the university’s design students. The free exhibition is open to the public and features over a hundred new products designed to improve your health and lifestyle and care for the planet.
Made in Brunel has been running since 2006, and this year’s four-day exhibition opened at the Bargehouse, in London’s Oxo Tower Wharf, yesterday.
The annual initiative encourages design students to think outside the box to create innovative new products, services and creative solutions as part of their study journey. It also provides students with opportunities to showcase their skills, collaborate with industry and develop as visionary professionals.
Sloom: Enhancing Memory - Designed by Product Design Engineering BSc student Sean Heaney
This year’s innovations include revolutionary wheels that transform manual wheelchairs into stair-climbing ones, an in-shower device that tells users how much water they have used, and a sofa that compresses into a single-seater, adapting to space and making it easy to transport.
Ascendant Wheels: Designed by Product Design Engineering BSc student Peter Hazlehurst
In collaboration with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Kalium Health – a medical technology manufacturer – another student has created a self-use blood potassium monitoring device and app for people with potassium imbalances.
Each year, the Made in Brunel students create a sub-brand and theme for the initiative, and for 2024 it’s ‘Interaction’.
Interaction: Made in Brunel students outside the exhibition
Centre: Tia Phillips and Sean Heaney, Made in Brunel Co-Directors
“Interaction is at the heart of design”, said Tia Phillips, a product design engineering student who is also co-director for this year’s event.
“It's about meaningful connections, innovative collaborations and making every interaction count.”
After months of research, planning, preparing and designing, the exhibition is also an opportunity for the budding entrepreneurs to promote their talents and ideas to industry professionals and the wider creative community. Last night was the annual networking event with industry, and tonight is a special evening for Brunel Design School alumni.
The 2024 Made in Brunel exhibition
Prof Hua Dong, Head of Brunel Design School, said: “Made in Brunel is Brunel’s symbol of excellence and embodies the visionary and practical approach to innovation, entrepreneurship and pursuit of excellence as seen in the British engineering giant and entrepreneur, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
“Through Made in Brunel, our students demonstrate extraordinary passion and skills in creating, making, communication and teamwork.
“Our staff members and industry partners provide second-to-none support to our students, and we celebrate achievements and success together at the Made in Brunel exhibition.”
This year, the Made in Brunel team initiated interactions locally and internationally, as far-reaching as China, with 10 of the Made in Brunel projects currently on display as part of Tianjin University’s 10th Design Exhibition. Tianjin is one of China’s top institutions, and its President, Dr Donghan Jin, visited Brunel Design School earlier this month.
Left to right: Prof Hua Dong, Head of Brunel Design School, Made in Brunel student, Tia Phillips,
Tianjin University’s President, Dr Donghan Jin and Brunel's Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Prof Hua Zhao.
“The caring culture and these strong links between Brunel Design School, industry and international partners add incredible value to studying design at Brunel University London,” said Prof Dong.
“I invite you to visit the Bargehouse to interact with the future visionaries of the design industry and beyond.”
The 2024 Made in Brunel exhibition
The exhibition is open from 11am to 9pm today and from 11am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can also collect a complimentary copy of this year’s Made in Brunel book, which showcases all the work of the 2024 Made in Brunel designers.
For further information on Product Design at Brunel, please visit http://www.brunel.ac.uk/bsc-pdes
Reported by:
Nadine Palmer,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 267090
nadine.palmer@brunel.ac.uk