Designs make international shortlist

Inventions by two young designers from Massey’s College of Creative Arts are among just 20 worldwide that are shortlisted for an international design prize.

Graduate Steven Wyeth, 23, and student Nicola Trudgen, 21, are the only New Zealanders to make the final 20 of the annual James Dyson Award.

The award challenges aspiring design students to develop inventive yet practical inventions. With a prize of around $20,000 up for grabs, entries must convince British design specialist James Dyson, along with a panel of international experts and Dyson engineers, of their potential to solve a problem.

Whittled down from more than 100 entries, the shortlist includes Ms Trudgen's seat for the elderly that can be attached to public facilities such as lamp posts, providing a convenient resting place, and Mr Wyeth's ergonomic fire hose device to make lighter work for fire fighters.

Mr Wyeth, who graduated with a Bachelor of Design in May this year, designed the fire hose system, which he calls the Minotaur. A hose is attached to a harness, at the wearer's centre of gravity, giving freedom of movement and comfort, and reducing the physical demands on the user, irrespective of the duration of operation. "The padded harness is contoured to the body so that it moves with the firefighter," he says. "My design also considers advancements in the control of the nozzle, as well as the position of the user over the top of the nozzle, with the wrist situated in a neutral position.

"I've shown Minotaur to some guys at the New Zealand Fire Service and they said the current nozzle system has remained unchanged for years now, and so they were pretty excited that a hose system had been designed with the user's experience at the forefront of the design decisions and innovations."

Ms Trudgen is offering similar innovation to the elderly and infirm. Her product, called Wanderest, was designed to encourage mobility for the elderly. "My research found walking to be the main form of exercise for seniors, and that elderly people would feel motivated to walk in the community more often if there were more accessible rest stops on walking routes," she says. "Walking can improve and even extend a person's life. When walking with my Grandma, who lives in a rest home, I've seen her struggle out of public seats and benches because they are low, and awkward to get out of," the Albany-based student says.

Steven Wyeth’s fire hose the Minotaur (top) and Nichola Trudgen’s Wanderest, both shortlisted for the international Dyson Design award.