Kingston University at New Designers Part Two 2014

Known for its high-calibre design graduates, Kingston University stood out from the crowds at New Designers Part Two (July 2-5) with an exhibition stand brimming with innovative design approaches. Here’s our top three from the British university: 

• Featuring Corian handles and interchangeable cartridges, Jake Rich’s modular make-up applicators are intended to be refilled throughout a user’s life, becoming a lasting product rather than a throwaway item. An increase in eco-ethical awareness is seeing approaches to refills such as these being embraced by several brands – see Beauty Retail Trends 2014 for examples. 

• Sunjoo Kim uses moulds made from foam sheets to create her unusually shaped ceramic vessels. Obvious seams and textured surfaces add to their uneven and experimental feel. Look to the Captured Process section of Materials Focus 2016: Free Form for similar approaches to inventive production methods. 

• Charles Parford-Plant attempts to tackle the issue of e-waste in his project Re-Writable. Offering an alternative to conventional plastic shell casings, which are difficult to open, electronics are encased in layers of cardboard and secured with elastic bands. This approach means the casings can be easily disassembled from the internal electronics, allowing the different elements to be easily and safely recycled by the consumer. For other approaches to this increasing concern, see Ethical Electronics. 

Look to our full Design Graduates 2014 coverage for more inspiration from this year’s young design talent.