Michael Tougher, a 4th year Product Design Engineering
(PDE) student at The Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University, has won the Design Innovation in
Plastics (DIP) 2014 award for his ‘Dots’ stackable buttons that encourage music understanding, creation and play. Michael follows in the footsteps of GSA graduate Dan Watson who won this award in 2010 and went on to win one of the world’s most prestigious prizes, the International Dyson Award. The second prize went to fellow PDE student
Helen Campbell for her construction system ‘Stackpaks’ using recycled dairy
product packaging. Michael and Helen beat off competition from 200 students
from 19 institutions across the UK.
(PDE) student at The Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University, has won the Design Innovation in
Plastics (DIP) 2014 award for his ‘Dots’ stackable buttons that encourage music understanding, creation and play. Michael follows in the footsteps of GSA graduate Dan Watson who won this award in 2010 and went on to win one of the world’s most prestigious prizes, the International Dyson Award. The second prize went to fellow PDE student
Helen Campbell for her construction system ‘Stackpaks’ using recycled dairy
product packaging. Michael and Helen beat off competition from 200 students
from 19 institutions across the UK.
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| Michael Tougher’s award-winning Dots design |
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| Proto-type of Michael Tougher’s award-winning Dots design |
The DIP competition brief was to design an educational
product in plastics that would stimulate divergent thinking and creativity. It
had to be original, functional and provide an engaging playful experience.
Consideration had also been given to the target market, including age, and
likely reasons for using the product. The students also had to demonstrate how they had developed the products in conjunction with users and considered key aspects of the users experience.
“Working with young people is vital as they are the innovators of tomorrow,” says Richard Northcote, chief sustainability officer at Bayer MaterialScience. “We would not have the company we have today without talent, which is why we have to invest in future generations to ensure our company will have a sustainable future in years to come. Michael’s was a great invention and we are looking forward to welcoming him to Leverkusen.”
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| Michael Tougher is presented with his award |
“We are always amazed
and never disappointed at how our young designers deliver the brief,” adds Richard Brown, chairman of the judging
panel. “There was much debate and
discussion but the overall winner, exemplifies the talent there is in our young
design community.”
and never disappointed at how our young designers deliver the brief,” adds Richard Brown, chairman of the judging
panel. “There was much debate and
discussion but the overall winner, exemplifies the talent there is in our young
design community.”
“The judges are challenged
every year with the excellence of the entries. It demonstrates the quality of
the teaching at our universities and the design talent there is in the UK.
Again this year we have six excellent finalists who have excelled in delivering
a solution to the brief.”
every year with the excellence of the entries. It demonstrates the quality of
the teaching at our universities and the design talent there is in the UK.
Again this year we have six excellent finalists who have excelled in delivering
a solution to the brief.”
As well as
£1,000 (€1,257) prize, Michael will also have the opportunity to do two
industry placements: one with Bayer MaterialScience in Leverkusen, the other in
the UK with Hasbro, the multinational toy and board game company. Meanwhile, Helen wins £500 (€629)
prize, and the chance undertake a work placement with the competition sponsor
Innovate Product Design,
£1,000 (€1,257) prize, Michael will also have the opportunity to do two
industry placements: one with Bayer MaterialScience in Leverkusen, the other in
the UK with Hasbro, the multinational toy and board game company. Meanwhile, Helen wins £500 (€629)
prize, and the chance undertake a work placement with the competition sponsor
Innovate Product Design,
“We congratulate Michael and Helen on their success
in this competition and we have to remember that PDE graduate, Dan Watson, won this award in 2010,” says Craig Whittet, Head of Product Design
Engineering at The Glasgow School of Art. “Dan went on to win tone of the world’s most prestigious design awards – the International Dyson Award.”
in this competition and we have to remember that PDE graduate, Dan Watson, won this award in 2010,” says Craig Whittet, Head of Product Design
Engineering at The Glasgow School of Art. “Dan went on to win tone of the world’s most prestigious design awards – the International Dyson Award.”
“The level of entries to DIP
highlights the strength of Design Engineering Education in the UK and the PDE
department is delighted that Michael and Helen have been rewarded for their
commitment and effort in developing their products. Their application of
creativity, innovation, coupled with an understanding of technical challenges
and user experience has been key to their success and this is clearly
demonstrated in their winning projects.
highlights the strength of Design Engineering Education in the UK and the PDE
department is delighted that Michael and Helen have been rewarded for their
commitment and effort in developing their products. Their application of
creativity, innovation, coupled with an understanding of technical challenges
and user experience has been key to their success and this is clearly
demonstrated in their winning projects.
“The
opportunities that Michael and Helen will have through working with companies of
the stature of Bayer MaterialScience, Hasbro and Innovate Product Design will
be invaluable to them as they continue to refine their creative practice and
develop a greater understanding of the responsibilities of being a design
engineer.”
opportunities that Michael and Helen will have through working with companies of
the stature of Bayer MaterialScience, Hasbro and Innovate Product Design will
be invaluable to them as they continue to refine their creative practice and
develop a greater understanding of the responsibilities of being a design
engineer.”
Last summer Michael Tougher was one of two GSA
students to win a placement with leading Glasgow-based design consultancy, 4c
Design, to work on the development of the Queen’s Baton.
students to win a placement with leading Glasgow-based design consultancy, 4c
Design, to work on the development of the Queen’s Baton.
“4c selected Michael last summer as part of our
‘Baton design & delivery team’ for the 2014 Queens Baton,” says Robin Smith, Director of 4c. “It’s great to see the very high
standard of GSA PDE course continuing with award winners like Michael -‘Tougher
than polycarbonate.’”
‘Baton design & delivery team’ for the 2014 Queens Baton,” says Robin Smith, Director of 4c. “It’s great to see the very high
standard of GSA PDE course continuing with award winners like Michael -‘Tougher
than polycarbonate.’”
Notes for Editors
- Michael Tougher and Helen Campbell were also recent winners of the the SIE Young Innovators Challenge
- Product Design Engineering
Alumni from the GSA have gone on to play key roles with leading international
companies including Apple, Dyson, Amazon-Kindle,
Dell, Jaguar-Landrover, and Philips
with others establishing award-winning consultancies such as Meso Design and 4c
- Further information on Product Design Engineering at The Glasgow School of Art http://www.gsa.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-degrees/product-design-engineering/