MEDIA RELEASE: Students on acclaimed PDE programme unveil limited edition designs created specially for the GSA shop

December 5, 2016


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Cerys Murray-Scott’s Roa bowls hand crafted from elemental Bismuth

4th
year designers on the acclaimed Product Design Engineering programme at The
Glasgow School of Art have turned their skills to the creation of a limited
edition collection of designs in collaboration with the GSA Shop.
The
challenge for the young designers was to create designs that would at once
enable them to experiment with materials and innovative manufacturing techniques
whilst making products with commercial appeal.
Nineteen
students undertook the challenge making designs in materials ranging from concrete
to acrylic, recycled leather, cork, bismuth and more. The products will be on
sale in the GSA Shop from today until 11 December.
This
year marks the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the Product
Design Engineering programme (which the GSA runs in partnership with The
University of Glasgow). Established by Professor Dugald Cameron, former
Director of the GSA, the programme has produced some of the leading designers
of their generation with alumni working in senior roles Apple, Dyson, Lego, TomTom, BMW and more. Others have established
their own successful companies including Fearsome
(sponsors of PDE 2016), 4c Design
creators of the iconic Queen’s Baton for the 2014 Commonwealth games – and Aircraft Medical, which was recently
sold to Medtronic plc for $110 million Recent graduates include Dan Watson (winner of the 2012
International Dyson Award) and Michael
Tougher
who recently scooped the JC Gammon Award for Dots an innovative approach to musical play which encourages learning and
experimentation.

The
Products
         
Max Campbell’s open form Fruitbowl, Ellen Britton’s Patina keyrings,
Sammy Arschavir’s Material Advantage chess set and Saski Goeres’ Kork bottle

Max
Campbell’s open form Fruitbowl, made in ash, was created
by using a microwave to bend the wood. Each bowl consists of twelve pieces of
locally sourced ash that are individually bent, finished and joined.
The
pattern for Ellen Britton’s Patina keyrings was inspired by
simple wire fasteners such as safety pins or the paperclips. Made I brass they
are an elegant alternative to the split ring keyring. With use the keyrings
will gradually develop their own unique patina through the slow abrasion of
keys and the contact with natural oils from skin
In the Material Advantage chess set Sammy Arschavir offers a new take on
the traditional format. The value of each piece on the board is reflected in an
increasing value of the material used in its manufacture ranging from MDF for
the pawns up to copper for the Kings, (Knights are in pine, bishops in walnut,
Rooks in acrylic and the Queens aluminium). The traditional black and white
pieces meanwhile are replaced by square and round pieces. The set is presented
on a laser etched cork board.
Saskia Goeres’ wanted to use
sustainable materials in her design and so finding a way to make glass more
endurable and safe was the starting point for her Kork water bottle. The
use of cork, a natural product, enabled her to at once address the issues of
sustainability and safety whilst offering a practical design that was
lightweight and thermally insulated the drink in the bottle.
 
Natalie Fuller’s Radial Fan, Kirsteen Cooper’s Interaction Coasters,  
Joe MacKechnie Luna bowl and Eilidh Johnson’s 102 Folds bud vase

The Radial Fan by Natalie Fuller is an elegant twist on the traditional accessory which shows the mechanism by which it works. Made from acrylic and decorative ribbon, its edges are sprayed with enamel to set of the bold symmetric and geometric shapes of the fans leafs.


Kirsteen Cooper’s Interaction
Coasters
, made from laser-cut
acrylic, encapsulate the two key elements of the PDE programme – engineering and
design. Enveloped in two clear layers of acrylic is a fully operational set of
gear cogs.
In
the Luna
bowls
Joe MacKechnie demonstrates how concrete can be used to create
domestic items. The texture of the exterior of the bowls is inspired by
volcanic surfaces whilst the interior is smooth to the touch. To ensure food
safety MacKechnie has covered the bowls with a special protective coating.
Cerys
Murray-Scott’s Roa bowls are hand crafted from elemental Bismuth. The cast
metal process creates a multi-faceted piece, which is enhanced by a
microcrystalline polish. Each of the ten hand made bowls is unique.
Eilidh
Johnson’s 102 Folds vase is inspired by origami. The mould for this bud
vase has been created from a piece of paper scored and folded by hand to
turning a 2d piece of paper into a flexible 3D structure.

   

  

Caitlin Berry’s Solitaire, 
Bryony Ayre’s Splash dish and Craig Duncan’s Cuppa tea infusers 

Caitlin
Berry’s Solitaire is a handcrafted version of the celebrated board
game. The board is formed from 200 year-old Ballachulish slate, a
material from a once thriving Scottish industry that was favoured by Mackintosh
on most of his buildings. Berry selected the slate from 6000 slates taken from
the roof of a traditional cottage in Strathaven.
Taking
inspiration from Glasgow’s motto Grant Crichton’s St Mungo’s Robin (limited
edition of 11) have been handcrafted in sapele (body), padauk, (red breast)
American Tulip wood (white breast) and Walnut (beak). Fascinated by the unique
grain patterns in wood Chrichton showcased both his practical skills in making
the pieces and his knowledge of different wood grains which inspired the
product.
The
Splash
dish is exactly what the name suggests, a dish that represents the dynamic
profile of the splash water.  Intrigued
by the idea of using synthetic materials to create natural, harmonic shapes,
Bryony Ayre has created a laser-cut and hand-bent frosted acrylic design. The
protrusions from the bowl provide perfect hooks for hanging rings when used as
a jewellery stand, and create fascinating shadows in overhead light.
A
tribute to the creativity of Glasgow’s industrial past Craig Duncan’s Cuppa
tea infusers are made from stainless steel mesh with laser cut acrylic handles.
Easy to use with a guide-hole and clasp, they allow loose leaf tea to be brewed
with ease of a regular teabag.
Anna
Campbell’s Edge paperweights feature
material collected from around the GSA suspended in epoxy resin. By using resin Campbell has created a product that
allows both the material and the light to be explored in an unusual way.
Robyn
Gilles was determined only to upcycle and reuse waste products in her design
for a Debit/Credit card holder. Gilles  collected scraps of material from local
designers and manufacturers to create the Rig
card holder which is adapted to the fast-paced world of contactless payment
and card readers.
Kevin O’Malley took inspiration from
the wooden layers found in scaffolding structures to develop his Layers
planters. Re-cycled scaffold board and assorted hardwoods are mixed to
create a contrast in materials. The eco-friendly design returns the timber back
to the earth in the elegant form of a planter supporting life for
succulents. 
The Kappu
cup is inspired by Japanese tea-making and its manufacture led designer Russell
Kilgour on a journey through mould making and clay slip casting. The designer
aims to create a tea drinking experience that encourages you to savour the
moment and appreciate the craft behind the everyday product A clean white earthenware
cup is paired with a pine wood saucer that provides a clash of materials as
well as cultures between British and Japanese traditions.  
All the products are available in
person at the GSA Shop in the Reid Building, 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3
6RF.  Open seven days a week 10am –
4.30pm. Most products also available on line via:
www.gsashop.co.uk
For full price list see Notes for
Editors
Ends
Further information of Product Design
Engineering at the GSA
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
@GSofAMedia
For further information on the GSA Shop
contact:
Jen Stewart
0141 566 1473
@gsashop

Notes
for Editors

2016 is the second year of the PDE –
GSA shop limited edition collaboration

In the shop and online

Max Campbell: Fruit bowl (limited edition of 7)
Material:
ash
£25.00
Ellen Britton: Patina brass keyrings (3 designs, limited edition of 9 of
each design)
Materials: brass
£8.00 (SOLD OUT)
Sammy
Arschavir
: Material Advantage
chess set (limited edition of 4)
Materials: king – copper, queen –
aluminium, rooks – acrylic, bishops – walnut, knights – pine, pawns – MDF. Board
  laser etched cork
£40.00  (SOLD OUT)
Saskia Goeres: Kork
water bottle (limited edition of 7 turquoise, 3 pink, 3 silver.)
Materials: cork, latex, glass,
plastic cap and detailing
£24.00
Kirsten Cooper: Interaction
coaster (3 different designs, limited edition of 5 of each design)
Materials: acrylic, stainless steel
£12.00.
Joe A L MacKechnie: Luna
bowls (limited edition of 10)
Material: concrete
£35.00
Cerys Murray-Scott: Roa bowl
(limited edition of 10)
Material:
bismuth
£60.00
Eilidh Johnson: 102 Folds
vase (limited edition of 10.)
Materials: plaster, glass, cork,
paper
£35.00
Caitlin
Berry
:
Solitaire game (limited edition of 10)
Materials: slate, wood, steel ball
bearings, velvet pouch, paper packaging and instructions.
£38.00.
Natalie Fuller: Radial
fan (limited edition of 6 & 4.- blue online, blue & black available in
store)
Materials:
acrylic, enamel
£18.00
Grant Crichton: Saint Mungo’s
Robin (l
imited edition of 11)
Materials:
Sapele (body), Padauk (red breast), American tulipwood (white breast), Walnut,
Pine (beak). 
 (SOLD OUT)
£25.00
Bryony Ayre: Splash
dish (2 colours, blue and orange – limited edition of 10 of each
colour)
Materials:
acrylic
£14.00
Craig Duncan: Cuppa tea
infuser (limited edition of 6 of each design: pink umbrella, turquoise
anchor, purple paintbrush online. Various colours in store)
Materials:
acrylic, stainless steel
£8.00
In the shop only
Anna Campbell: Edge
paperweights (3 versions – coloured string / wood shavings / metal shavings)
Materials: epoxy resin, string, wood
shavings, metal shavings
£8.00
each
Robyn Gillies: Rig card
holders (limited edition of 10)
Materials: recycled leather,
recycled waxed cotton
£16.00
each
Kevin
O’Malley
:
Layers planters (2 design versions – limited editions of 4 & 5)
Materials: spruce, ash, mahogany,
oak, teak
£30.00 each
Russell
Kilgour
:
Kappu cup (limited edition of 4)
Materials: earthenware, pine, cork
£22.00