At the showcase, Greg Durden was awarded the Joseph Joseph Brilliantly Useful Design award and the Oxford Products Young Creative of the Year award for his product, Urban Nomad.
Urban Nomad is a motorcycle backpack designed to double as an attachment for the back of a motorbike, combining functionality and aesthetic appeal for riders to ensure the bag looks great on a bike while meeting the needs of the rider.
Judges for both these awards praised Greg’s attention to detail, user centric design and outstanding aesthetics.
Greg said: “Winning the Joseph Joseph and Oxford Products Design Awards was an incredibly gratifying experience, marking the culmination of my hard work and dedication. My inspiration for creating the product stemmed from a desire to solve a pressing problem I observed, coupled with a passion for innovative design.
“My course played a crucial role in this achievement, providing me with the necessary skills, knowledge, and creative freedom to develop my ideas. The support from my tutors and the collaborative environment fostered at Hallam were instrumental in refining my project and pushing the boundaries of my creativity.”
Grace Portus was awarded the Joseph Stannah award for her product, thread and received £1,000 to help support her design career.
Thread is agarment crafted to improve mobility and memory among the elderly by reducing unnecessary journeys within the household. The produce was inspired by Grace’s personal experiences of her grandma’s struggles when moving and carrying items at home.
The design features an adapted and customisable Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) mechanism inspired by the British Army and iconography is used to prompt pocket contents, enhancing user memory.
Grace said: “Winning the award from Stannah is an incredible honour, especially since my grandma was the inspiration behind this project. Her needs motivated me to fully engage in creating a solution that would benefit her and others with mobility problems.
“The Product Design course at Sheffield Hallam University is truly inspiring, blending creativity with hands-on skills. The supportive lecturers and great facilities within the University have given me the confidence to succeed in the design field, and I am deeply grateful to have been a part of this course.”
Alongside the award winners, several Hallam students also received industry recognition:
- James Waite - Kenwood likes recognition
- Daniel Cox – Hallmark loves recognition
- Jack Norris - Stannah loves, Dyson Best in Show and Creative Conscience Best in Show for Social/Environmental Impact
- Amelia Healey - Creative Conscience Best in Show for Social/Environmental Impact
- Greg Durden – DCA like it and MADE.com loves recognition
Mark Fisher, course leader for product design at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Many congratulations to this year’s award winners, we’re so proud of the incredible talent our students have shown at New Designers 2024. We had an incredible week with so much attention and positive feedback from industry, academics and visitors to the stand.
“It’s such an exciting time for our graduates as they celebrate their successes and share their projects at a national exhibition and we wish them all the best in the next phase of their creative careers. I’d also like to thank my team and congratulate them on supporting another fantastic cohort of Hallam Product Design students.”
