Samuel Robinson
BA Product Design
I am always looking out for unique objects. In my design work, I thrive when creating functional designs and enjoy practicing the balancing act of combining shape with purpose. Reaching this balance whilst pushing its boundaries is what makes excited me about design.
Reducing Fruit Waste to Tackle Unsustainability
The global food network-associated unsustainability provided inspiration for this project. The problem area of food waste is a key driver of unsustainability, particularly fresh fruit because of its mode of transport from farm-to-consumer. The continued demand from consumers for seasonal fruit means the network will continue to be problematic. Enabling consumers to better-preserve their fruit will reduce waste and alter their eating habits to help mitigate network-associated unsustainability. This led to the design of FruitCase, a product encouraging fruit preservation, helping reduce the demand on the network, and provide an attainable stepping-stone towards a sustainable future.
Fruits require different storage conditions, and a lack of this knowledge contributes to waste. FruitCase enables fruit to be stored in its appropriate groups, with the app educating the user how to do so.
The need to optimise storage inspired a minimal design, comprised of a main fruit box for the kitchen counter, four boxes of various size and a lid used for additional storage, or protection in the fridge. The smaller boxes and lid can be disassembled by the user. FruitCase utilises only bamboo, a sustainable material that has been shown to reduce microbe growth, further contributing to prolonging the lifespan of fruit.
Opal
The 'Opal Desk Light' is designed for a home workspace environment, inspired by a large retailer's market demographic. The shift towards millennials working from home presents new challenges not seen in a typical work environment. Opal is the solution aimed to improve the user's work-life balance by increasing productivity and well-being. It encourages the ideal work rhythm by prompting the user to take a break from work every 50 minutes with a change in the light's colour temperature, easily recognisable to the household.
The light controls also allow the user to change these settings manually. For task performance, the user can set a higher colour temperature directed at the desk, and when you need a break, you can switch to a ambient light. For all settings, light intensity can be adjusted with the dimmer at the top of the acrylic shade.