Member Article

Student sitting on bright idea wins cash prize

A Northumbria University student has won a prestigious national award for his fresh new take on the humble wire coat hanger. Third year Design for Industry student Simon Daniel created ‘Coathanger’ – a piece of urban furniture based on the iconic shape of a coat hanger. The steel wire structure uses the coat hanger form to create a seating platform. Available in pieces, the bench can be formed to fit any space.

Simon’s concept has won him a £7,500 cash award from the RSA – the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and the Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers. He is currently undertaking a six month internship with GRO Design, based in Eindhoven, Holland.

Simon said: “The furniture attempts to tackle the issues of sociability in public scenarios by supporting both conversation and seclusion. I wanted to create something made entirely from steel wire, and as the coat hanger is one of the most iconic steel wire shapes, I decided to base my concept on that. It almost becomes an upside down clothes rail. The award has given me a fantastic opportunity to further my skills in design as well as being able to develop the winning concept into a more accomplished state. “I’m working on some fascinating projects with some major international consumer electronics companies. It’s a great challenge and invaluable experience for the future.”

RSA Design Directions encourages emerging young designers to engage with a broader social and environmental context. Working across many mediums under various themes, prizes this year total in the region of £100,000. For more visit www.rsadesigndirection.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .