News
Release
Young designer helps 11-year old with rare lung
disease to run, play and enjoy kicking a football with his pals
disease to run, play and enjoy kicking a football with his pals
|
|
Images courtesy of 4c Design
|
A special backpack created by Hannah Jenkins, a
fifth year Product Design Engineering student at The Glasgow School of Art,
is giving a new lease of life to an 11-year old with a rare lung disease. Lenny
Yule, from Linwood near Glasgow, needs
to carry around a supply tank of liquid oxygen when he is away from home, and
his existing backpack, which had been designed to be used by an elderly
patient, was not suited to the needs and lifestyle of an active youngster.
fifth year Product Design Engineering student at The Glasgow School of Art,
is giving a new lease of life to an 11-year old with a rare lung disease. Lenny
Yule, from Linwood near Glasgow, needs
to carry around a supply tank of liquid oxygen when he is away from home, and
his existing backpack, which had been designed to be used by an elderly
patient, was not suited to the needs and lifestyle of an active youngster.
“The straps on the backpack that Lenny was
having to use were too long to fit his frame,” explains Hannah, “so the oxygen tank hit off of his lower back as he ran and it swayed
from side to side. This made playing football, running around with his pet dog
and even walking to school very uncomfortable.”
Whilst
undertaking a four month internship with leading Scottish product design
company, 4c Design, Hannah was given
the challenge of creating a bag better suited to an 11-year old, one that could
carry the oxygen tank securely whilst fitting Lenny more comfortably. Above all
the bag had to be suitable for running around outside, walking to school and
playing football with his pals, as well as just sitting on the sofa.
undertaking a four month internship with leading Scottish product design
company, 4c Design, Hannah was given
the challenge of creating a bag better suited to an 11-year old, one that could
carry the oxygen tank securely whilst fitting Lenny more comfortably. Above all
the bag had to be suitable for running around outside, walking to school and
playing football with his pals, as well as just sitting on the sofa.
Hannah
took a commercially available backpack of a size appropriate to Lenny’s frame
and reworked it to accommodate an oxygen tank. Padded and flexible straps allow
a comfortable fit on the shoulders whilst the addition of hidden straps in a
back pocket mean that the backpack can be hung from a larger school bag. An
extendable waist strap allows for the pack to fit comfortably over light and
heavy garments; a velcro strap over the Helios oxygen tank prevents movement
when worn whilst running; and the tubing connecting to the tank is coiled and
stored in a front pocket. A top zip allows for easy insertion of the oxygen
tank and side straps, when tightened prevent side-to-side movement. The
backpack has given him a new lease of life.
took a commercially available backpack of a size appropriate to Lenny’s frame
and reworked it to accommodate an oxygen tank. Padded and flexible straps allow
a comfortable fit on the shoulders whilst the addition of hidden straps in a
back pocket mean that the backpack can be hung from a larger school bag. An
extendable waist strap allows for the pack to fit comfortably over light and
heavy garments; a velcro strap over the Helios oxygen tank prevents movement
when worn whilst running; and the tubing connecting to the tank is coiled and
stored in a front pocket. A top zip allows for easy insertion of the oxygen
tank and side straps, when tightened prevent side-to-side movement. The
backpack has given him a new lease of life.
|
|
Image
courtesy of 4c Design
|
“Meeting
Robin, Katherine and Hannah has been wonderful,” says Lenny’s mum Edel. “Lenny loved being involved with the
design process for the new backpack and his ideas and suggestions where taken
on board. Hannah was very patient with him and gave him what he wanted and
needed with a new lightweight comfortable bag.”
Robin, Katherine and Hannah has been wonderful,” says Lenny’s mum Edel. “Lenny loved being involved with the
design process for the new backpack and his ideas and suggestions where taken
on board. Hannah was very patient with him and gave him what he wanted and
needed with a new lightweight comfortable bag.”
“We have
always insisted that Lenny be active and we would never let having an
oxygen tank stop him living a full and healthy lifestyle, she adds. He no
longer has to take the backpack off to play football or be on his scooter both
which would have previously involved a lot of bumping around with the old bag,
and this means he can do these activities for longer. Lenny is a very confident
boy and this backpack means that he can shine just that little bit more. “
always insisted that Lenny be active and we would never let having an
oxygen tank stop him living a full and healthy lifestyle, she adds. He no
longer has to take the backpack off to play football or be on his scooter both
which would have previously involved a lot of bumping around with the old bag,
and this means he can do these activities for longer. Lenny is a very confident
boy and this backpack means that he can shine just that little bit more. “
“The
kindness of all the team at 4c and all the hard work that Hannah has put
in is amazing and they have made our boy have one less thing to worry
about in his life. We could never thank them enough.”
kindness of all the team at 4c and all the hard work that Hannah has put
in is amazing and they have made our boy have one less thing to worry
about in his life. We could never thank them enough.”
Robin Smith of award winning Glasgow-based 4c
Design added,
Design added,
“We had become aware of Lenny’s situation
through strin connection we have built with Yorkhill Children’s Hospital for
whom we had done some charitable work in the past. Given the rareness of
Lenny’s condition it was not possible for the NHS to create a piece of
equipment specifically for him, so we were delighted to take on the challenge.”
through strin connection we have built with Yorkhill Children’s Hospital for
whom we had done some charitable work in the past. Given the rareness of
Lenny’s condition it was not possible for the NHS to create a piece of
equipment specifically for him, so we were delighted to take on the challenge.”
“Pro
bono work is something that we try to undertake as often as possible and having
Hannah’s skills enabled us to devote the time necessary to research, design and
produce a product that addressed all Lenny’s needs.”
bono work is something that we try to undertake as often as possible and having
Hannah’s skills enabled us to devote the time necessary to research, design and
produce a product that addressed all Lenny’s needs.”
“A
commitment to design which makes a positive difference to people’s lives and
the environment is a central to the Product Design Engineering programme”, says Craig Whittet, Head of PDE at
the GSA. “The relationship with 4c Design
not only enables our students to get valuable work place experience, but as
with Hannah, to apply design skills to real life challenges.”
commitment to design which makes a positive difference to people’s lives and
the environment is a central to the Product Design Engineering programme”, says Craig Whittet, Head of PDE at
the GSA. “The relationship with 4c Design
not only enables our students to get valuable work place experience, but as
with Hannah, to apply design skills to real life challenges.”
Lenny
Yule’s family are involved with the charity Child Lung Foundation which raises awareness of rare lung diseases
as well as supporting the families of children affected. The blueprint for
Hannah’s design will be given to the charity for them to use to create
backpacks for other children who need to carry an oxygen supply. To see how you
can get involved or donate, visit: http://www.childlungfoundation.org
Yule’s family are involved with the charity Child Lung Foundation which raises awareness of rare lung diseases
as well as supporting the families of children affected. The blueprint for
Hannah’s design will be given to the charity for them to use to create
backpacks for other children who need to carry an oxygen supply. To see how you
can get involved or donate, visit: http://www.childlungfoundation.org
For further
information on Hannah’s design visit: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0azhUe8I0TiSWNONm5YZ0pFZlk
information on Hannah’s design visit: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0azhUe8I0TiSWNONm5YZ0pFZlk
Ends
22 November
2012
2012
Issued by the GSA. For further information,
images and interviews contact:
images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth
0779
941 4474
941 4474
Notes for Editors
- Graduates from the GSA’s Product Design Engineering (formerly
Industrial Design) course are making tangible differences to people’s
lives across the globe. Amongst its alumni it counts the funders of 4c
Design Robin Smith and William Mitchell, the current head of design for
Jaguar Landrover, the current head of design Kindle (Amazon), the
head of research and South East Asia for Dyson, the recently announced winner of the 2012
International Dyson Award (Dan Watson) and winner of a recent Shell
Livewire Grand Ideas Award (Amy Corbett). For further information on PDE at the GSA visit
http://www.gsa.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-degrees/product-design-engineering/
·
4c is a Design Engineering Consultancy based in
Glasgow, comprising designers, engineers and model-makers. The company was
established in 2002 by Product Design Engineering alumni William Mitchell and
Robin Smith. Since its inception, 4C has been awarded more than 200 contracts
from over 80 different clients, ranging from international household names such
as Red Bull and Michelin, to individual local inventors. Commissioned work
includes mechanical engineering, graphics, 3D animation, and medical design. The
innovative design culture
that has been engineered within 4c has been key to the company’s success, and
reflects the founders’ experience within the creative hub of the GSA. For
more information on 4c Design visit www.4cdesign.co.uk
4c is a Design Engineering Consultancy based in
Glasgow, comprising designers, engineers and model-makers. The company was
established in 2002 by Product Design Engineering alumni William Mitchell and
Robin Smith. Since its inception, 4C has been awarded more than 200 contracts
from over 80 different clients, ranging from international household names such
as Red Bull and Michelin, to individual local inventors. Commissioned work
includes mechanical engineering, graphics, 3D animation, and medical design. The
innovative design culture
that has been engineered within 4c has been key to the company’s success, and
reflects the founders’ experience within the creative hub of the GSA. For
more information on 4c Design visit www.4cdesign.co.uk