As part of the 2011/2012 academic year curriculum, Sagentia presented the students with a challenge to redesign one of two design classics - the Anglepoise lamp or the Umbrella – two products that are widely known and used with high functionality, but with designs that offer the opportunity to be updated and improved. The winning team came up with the ‘Populla’ concept, a pop-up umbrella designed for city workers and students and ideal for short dash situations. The product folds up completely flat to fit in a suitcase or laptop bag for ease and convenience.
This product design project is an integral part of Loughborough’s second year Product Design Engineering course and has been supported for the last four years by industry partner Sagentia.
Bob Young, the Programme Director for the Product Design Engineering course at Loughborough University, comments: “Having an industry partner like Sagentia supporting this project helps bring a real world dimension to the work our students are doing and enables them to understand the commercial realities involved in product design.”
The students were split into eight teams of five to six people. Each team set about focusing on bringing an existing classic design up to date by incorporating new functionality, greater usability and modern design, techniques and materials. The solution had to be innovative, technically feasible and address market needs.
Having set the design briefs, Sagentia worked interactively with the students to offer guidance at key stages throughout the academic year. Three consultants from Sagentia also joined the judging panel at the end the academic year so that projects were not only viewed from an academic but also an industry and commercial perspective.
During the judging session, each team presented their product concept to the panel, which included details of their market research, concept generation, detailed design, cost analysis and a concept prototype.
The ‘Populla’ team hit upon a novel product concept and also identified a market with a truly un-met need. This ideal combination of factors for a new product went a long way to ensuring that this team were judged the winners.
Commenting on Sagentia’s involvement, Richard Gregory, Senior Consultant at Sagentia, said: “As a product development company we aim to give students briefs that are typical of the kind of challenges they might face once they out working in the industry. The students at Loughborough’s second year Product Design Engineering course were truly impressive with their projects this year, demonstrating analysis of both technical and commercial considerations in their final designs. At Sagentia we are committed to supporting and encouraging the engineers and product designers of the future and being able to share our experience and knowledge with the next generation is always something we look forward to.”
This is part of Sagentia’s wider Academic Partnership Programme, which aims to bring a real world perspective to students’ learning and to gain access to some of the best upcoming talent in science, technology and design. The programme includes guest lectureships, developing course material and offering internships and summer placements. Sagentia currently has links with several leading universities both in the UK and the US.
About Sagentia
Sagentia is a global innovation, technology and product development company. We provide outsourced R&D consultancy services to start ups through to global market leaders in the medical, industrial and consumer sectors.
With global headquarters in Cambridge, UK, and US headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Sagentia works with clients from front end market needs analysis through to transfer to manufacture. We deliver innovation around new technologies and new generation products and services that provide commercial value and market advantage. The company also assists business leaders to create strategies for technology, innovation and growth.
Further information can be found at: www.sagentia.com
_____________________________________________
Product design excellence celebrated by Loughborough University and Sagentia
8 August 2012
Second year product design engineering undergraduates at Loughborough University have been praised for their innovative ideas at a special judging and awards ceremony organised by Loughborough with global product development company Sagentia.