IED STUDENT AWARDS
Andrea Gomez de la Vara
BSc Product Design Technology
RProdDes accredited programme,
Buckinghamshire New University
‘WorkECE’ – designed and
manufactured by Andrea
Gomez de la Vara in her
fi nal year – is a piece of
furniture that, she says,
“works in the new way of
workspace for offi ces and
libraries”. WorkECE has
been designed for anyone
spending a lot of time
sitting down in front of a
desk and subjected to
the stresses, strains
and aches this can
bring. “The product
adapts to the needs of the user, thanks to the
ease of adjustment in both table and chair. It offers comfort,
ergonomics and a drastic improvement in the effi ciency of
work carried out.”
“Thanks to the LegaDrive system provided by Hettich,
users can adjust the height of the table – just by pressing
a button – to achieve a healthier and more effi cient way
to work. Also, the table top can be moved forwards and
backwards, and inclined at multiple angles, allowing the user
to work in various positions, based on what makes them feel
most comfortable and supported,” she adds.
“My inspiration and reason for embracing this project
came from observing people working in the library, who were
subjected to aches and pains from the postures they had to
adapt. I wanted to give people a better experience.”
Andrea is now studying for an MSc in Integrated Product
Design at Brunel University of London.
Greg Rolleston
BSc (Hons) Product Design
RProdDes accredited programme, University of Nottingham Trent
The GYZR Flood awareness system developed by Greg Rolleston
aims to improve driver behaviour and increase road safety
in wet or fl ooded road conditions by displaying actual fl ood
data given by real-time monitoring of the roads ahead. GYZR
detects both water level and fl ow rate, displaying the data in an
understandable manner to motorists through an interactive sign.
“The system consists of two parts: a bollard and sign,” he
says. “The bollard is placed at the roadside and monitors the
water level and fl ow independently, sending this information to
an interactive sign 200m away. The sign has three stages of
warning, showing drivers different depth warnings and allowing
them to make a safe, informed decision to either tackle or avoid
the fl oodwater.” This information can then be broadcast from
the signs to traffi c control centres via 3G, allowing them to
divert traffi c, heavy vehicles and emergency services before
they become stuck in the problem area.
Greg worked closely with the Environmental
Agency and Nottingham City Council. CAD
models were produced of the chosen fi nal
concept, followed by prototyping, using
electronics and a variety of manufacturing
processes, such as welding, vacuum forming
and milling.
He was given a placement at Stormsaver Ltd, which
specialises in rainwater harvesting and attenuation systems.
During his year in industry, he became involved in fl ood-related
projects and went to Flood Expo in London, which sparked his
interest in designing something to help solve this problem.
He returned to Stormsaver after graduating, working on new
company innovations and its new carbon-neutral product range.
GYZR is now part of a research project, led by his former
tutor Dr Matthew Watkins, working with the local council to test
the effectiveness of the system in a road fl ooding hotspot, with
the goal of developing a successful product for rollout across
fl ooding hotspots in the UK. Greg concludes: “An ambition postuniversity
is to travel to America and get involved in the design
industry over there; also, possibly starting my own design/
engineering company is a long-term goal.”
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