Hft/University of the West of England student design project
Hft has been part of an exciting project at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) where students were challenged to design a new piece of Personalised Technology that could be used to support people with learning disabilities.
Our Personalised Technology team set 13 teams of year two Creative Product Design and Product Design Technology students the task of designing a product that would help support staff to remotely monitor the location of adults with learning disabilities and ensure their safety.
Replicating the working environment of a real industry brief, the students worked full time on the project for four weeks. The project began with a briefing at the Bristol & Bath Science Park from key members of Hft staff, including Chief Executive, Robert Longley-Cook, Strategic Director of Innovation, Steve Barnard and Innovation Manager, Sarah Weston.
The teams then had two weeks to research, develop and submit a concept proposal, before presenting their final ideas and prototypes to Hft and a panel of industry experts, which included: Emma Nichols, Hft’s Personalised Technology Manager; Bonnie Dean, Chief Executive of the Bristol and Bath Science Park; Dr Tim Adlam, Head of Mechanical Engineering at Designability and Lynne Elvins, Founder of DesignRally.
