Bournemouth UniversityA cake icing pen, a computer game controlled by brain power and a glamping pod were just some of the ground-breaking ideas and inventions on display at this year’s Festival of Design and Innovation (FODI).
The annual showcase of work by final year design and creative technology students at Bournemouth University ran for three days and was open to the public and industry, as well as pupils from schools and colleges who took part in special workshops.
More than 170 students from across courses including Product Design, Music and Audio Technology and Design Visualisation, showcased their designs, models and prototypes.
Among the work on show was a musical air hockey device, a lifting aid to transport heavy goods like washing machines easily and safely and an app to help school children learn their times tables.
Product Design student Coco Canessa has developed a precision cake icing dispenser, which is used like like a pen to prevent mess and waste while icing cakes.
“The idea initially was to relieve the pain and fatigue that people have to go through when they are doing it professionally.
“The more tired the arm gets, the less precise you are and the less control you have,” said Coco.
“Using this, you don’t have to get messy and the pressure is applied for you.”
Coco won the award for Most Commercially Innovative Product at the launch of FODI, where awards were given to students from each of the courses who have excelled.
“It felt brilliant to win the award – I was absolutely stunned and I’m so proud,” she said, adding that she had enjoyed exhibiting her work at FODI.
“It’s been great – lots of people have been asking for samples, and you learn what it’s like to present yourself and communicate your product.”
BA (Hons) Industrial Design student Maria Camila Fontalvo Delgado designed a glamping pod – a portable pod for people who want a luxury camping experience.
Maria who is from Columbia, has now been invited to display her idea at New Designers 2013, a London-based exhibition for emerging design talent.
“After lots of research I realised that glamping has been something that’s grown dramatically, but they still use the same types of accommodation, like tents and caravans,” said Maria.
“I wanted something that was very powerful visually so I made it like the metamorphosis of a butterfly, and it’s got a cooler, a sofa and a suspended hammock.
“I’ve had lots of interest and people saying they think it’s a real cool project.”
FODI is now in its 21st year, and attracted more than 1,000 visitors, including industry representatives and talent scouts.
Dr Bob Eves, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Product Design, said: “It gets the students going through the process and experiences of an exhibition and the opportunity of showing their work, which is great.
“There’s so much work that has gone into this and it’s really good to show the breadth of knowledge and experience that there is at BU.
“It just gets better every year.”