A Light Switch System to Help Children Save Energy.

Increasing the younger generation’s awareness of energy consumption now will help to effect change in the future. Focusing on lighting is a simple way to engage them. Tio enables children to demonstrate their knowledge of energy conservation to their families, while encouraging their role as ‘energy champions’ of the home.

Image 1: Tio

The concept of an ‘energy saving light switch’ aims to make children more aware of the energy they use in lighting their rooms. Energy is given a personality through a face featured on the light switch. The character will get progressively more angry the longer the lights are on. This display of emotion will encourage the child to turn off their lights when they are not needed, for example during the day, or when they are not in the room. A key feature of the concept is that it is a ‘product system’. The wall mounted light switch communicates with a computer to record the child’s lighting behaviour.

A web application allows the child to track their lighting-use performance over time. Tio relates lighting usage to topics that are meaningful to children; how energy affects trees, animals and the local environment. This not only makes energy consumption more understandable to the child but also shows the effect saving energy can have on their life. This engages children to make a personal contribution to reducing energy consumption.

Tio will be featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s upcoming exhibition ‘Talk to Me‘. Tio was featured in the October issue of Entrepreneur Magazine in the “Strokes of Genius” section. In April 2010 Tio was showcased by Springwise, analysts of global business trends, in a focus on in-home energy monitoring devices. Tio was awarded the HSBC Sustainability Prize in 2009 and has been featured in research papers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and in presentations by global companies such as Vodafone.

Download a case study about Tio here.

Image 1: “Don’t Let The Label Label You” logo

In a time when the music industry is steadily in decline, 39 Days aims to show a new, possibly groundbreaking, way of marketing oneself as an artist. The four friends will promote themselves through the internet, sell their CDs independently, and sell self-designed t-shirts. Without a manager trying to organize gigs and increase record sales, the four friends will do it all on their own.

The aim of the project was twofold: 1. To create a website to communicate the concept to investors, and 2. To create a platform for blog/video updates once the journey had started. The website takes inspiration from hip-hop and independent music, street art and youth culture.

For more information, please visit www.39daysthefilm.com.

Image 1: Exhibit at the DMY International Design Festival in Berlin

The brand has become the destination for consumers, producers and service providers who understand that good engineering and design is a vital function of our lives. It attracts people from across the industry spectrum, whether product or service focused, wanting to meet the young innovators creating our future.

The theme of Made in Brunel in 2009 was “Thinking Out Loud”. Thinking Out Loud highlights the role of Brunel graduates in the future of design, engineering and multimedia. Sharing thoughts on contemporary issues firmly places them at the forefront of the next generation of engineers and designers.

A group of over 50 students and professors helped to realise a number of events and projects. These included;
- The Made in Brunel showcase event at the Business Design Centre in London;
- The book “Thinking Out Loud: Designing for a Positive Future” published by Papadakis Publishers;
- Exhibiting at the DMY International Design Festival in Berlin, New Designers and the London Design Festival in London;

For more information, please visit www.madeinbrunel.com.

Image 1: The Reader showing the interface

The Penguin Journal allows the individual to ‘write’ their own story. It takes cues from the body, capturing only events that are meaningful to the user. By recording frequently overlooked events the Journal provokes thought and reflection – a key essence of the Penguin brand.

The Penguin Journal is comprised of two parts; a Clip to capture your day and a Reader to allow you to reflect upon the captured events. The Clip is worn during the day and can be attached to any item of clothing. It uses technology that detects and records changes in the physical characteristics of the user. These events are stored until they can be viewed on the Reader. The Reader acts as a docking station for the Clip and an interface for the user.

This project was undertaken as a design study while at Brunel University and is in no way affiliated with the Penguin Group brand.

Image 1: The St Andrews Charity Oktoberfest logo

The project called for an identity to convey the event’s Bavarian roots and St. Andrews location. This was achieved by adapting German and Scottish coats of arms. The resulting graphic theme was used throughout the event’s website, posters, tickets and other promotional material.

For more information, please visit www.st-andrews-oktoberfest.com.

Image 1: The prototype in use

Working closely with BBC Worldwide and child development specialists, the concept of a children’s computer mouse was developed. An otherwise inanimate product, the computer mouse, is humanised by the introduction of Teletubby characteristics to the computer environment. This allows children to be gently introduced to the world of computers and learn fundamental skills for the modern world.

From the early stages of form and design language development issues such as brand identity, ergonomic features and manufacturing processes were addressed. The Tubby Click Click incorporates tactile feedback, in the form of vibration, to create a multi-sensory experience for the child. The form promotes the development of fine motor skills and dexterity. Features such as a magnetic ‘on-cable’ release system increase the safety of the product.

Image 1: Detail of the light

The ideation process investigated various ways to alter the distance between the light source and the lens, as well as variations in form and detail. Scale models allowed proportions and surface interactions to be refined while functional prototypes allowed each mechanism to be tested and analysed. Materials and manufacturing processes were considered throughout the design process. This allowed detailed technical drawings to be produced.

The final solution uses an SLR-lens inspired focusing system. The lens is rotated to adjust it’s distance from the static light source. Utilising a lens allows for a lower voltage light source to be used thus reducing energy consumption.

Image 1: T-Shirts drying after printing

T-Shirts for the event have been designed since 2000. The shirts are produced using modern screen printing techniques, allowing for highly detailed designs to be accurately printed.

Over 100 faces greet you as you walk into the building giving it great personality and emotion. The design is modular to allow new faces to be added as they join the Brunel Design family.