Design Innovation in Plastics:  2019 finalists await results

Five student finalists have presented their newly created products to enhance health and wellbeing to a panel of judges at the finals of the Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition, 2019.

Industry headline sponsored by Covestro, and the longest running student plastics design competition of its type, DIP is held every year to encourage university students to come up with brand new products made primarily of plastic.

Competition organisers, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners, this year set the challenging brief of improving health, wellbeing or encouraging exercise, with a product which has the qualities of longevity and sustainability.

The finalists, Louis Farnsworth (De Montfort University), Daniella Kaligorsky (Technological University Dublin), Christopher Kay (De Montfort University), Namgyun Ryu (Brunel University), and Kai Wang (Brunel University), were chosen from an original field of 149 entries at the preliminary judging stage.

They were given several weeks to refine their products following the judges’ recommendations, before appearing before them in person to present their entries. 

Chairman of judges, Richard Brown (RJG Technologies), commented: “We were encouraged to see that this year all the finalists had fully taken on board the guidance and feedback we offered them after the preliminary round, back in April.  They clearly focused on areas we felt needed attention before their final presentation, and this resulted in improved entries.

“The content of their presentations and the very high level of professionalism, made it a difficult task to choose the winner.  There are no losers at this stage of the competition, but there can only be one winner, and I am sure when all the finalists present their products on July 5 and the winner is announced, it will be evident why this competition continues to be highly regarded by the students and universities that take part”.

The final awards ceremony, on July 5, is being held at Painters Hall, London. The winner will receive a trip to Germany to visit Covestro, along with a cash prize.  A key feature of the competition is that every finalist also receives a short industry placement with one of the competition sponsors: Brightworks, HellermannTyton, Innovate Product Design, PDD and RJG Technologies.

The five finalists are:

Louis Farnsworth, 3^rd year product design student, De Montfort University. Product Name: Air - A smart breathing aid for asthmatics to reduce asthma flare up and irritation to the lungs and airway when exercising.

Daniella Kaligorsky – 3^rd year product design student, Technological University Dublin. Product name: Checkkit  -  A new way to raise breast cancer awareness by promoting self-examination.

Christopher Kay – 4^th year product design student, De Montfort University. Product name: EnviroJect – a re-usable syringe system, providing a safe and sustainable method of administering medications.

Namgyun Ryu – 1^st year MSc Integrated Product Design student, Brunel University. Product name: Tri Walker – A walking assistant product for enhanced mobility and health for the elderly, adding improved functionality to conventional walking aids.

Kai Wang –  4^th year integrated product design student, Brunel University. Product: POTLUCK - A combined cooking and storage device that encourages and simplifies the production of stock cubes using avoidable food waste.