Solent students compete in live DIY design brief for B&Q
Southampton Solent University Product Design students took on a live brief for B&Q, to win a highly sought-after work placement in their design studio at Chandler's Ford.
B&Q research found that half of all Brits believe DIY and basic household maintenance skills are being lost in a generation, so B&Q briefed Solent students to produce a DIY support kit – a packaged tool set and instructions based around a particular task – such as putting up a picture, shelf or a mirror.
Fourteen BA (Hons) Product Design students created DIY support kits designed to generate confidence in the individual in taking on a particular task in the home. The designs included a kit to safely rewire a plug, an adjustable support for holding tools while working at heights, and a flexible drive tool to allow easy access to basin taps for home plumbing.
A judging panel of B&Q’s designers selected BA (Hons) Product Design student Charlie Jeffery (20), as the winning DIY support kit. Her innovative picture hanging kit contains a spirit level, a gadget to keep tools at 90degrees to the wall and an ergonomically comfortable screwdriver.
Commenting on her win, Charlie said, “I put myself in the shoes of the consumer, to see what I would want/need to help me when setting up home. I tested the process to see where the difficulties lie in hanging a picture, and how I could then simplify the task. Winning the work placement at B&Q is a great opportunity as I’m going to get hands on experience, which I’m really looking forward to.”
Andy Tose, B&Q Brand Design Lead adds, “We’ve seen some fantastic designs from the Solent Product Design students, Charlie’s tool kit stood out with her detailed customer research and for how it fits with B&Q’s other products. We’re looking forward to welcoming her fresh thinking at the B&Q design studios where she will be exposed to live projects for the UK’s largest home improvement retailer.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9079 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
About Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The university was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students. It has been awarded ‘Gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
About B&Q
B&Q is the largest home improvement and garden centre retailer in the UK and Ireland with 362 stores, employing more than 33,000 people nationwide, more than a quarter of whom are over 50 years of age, with a similar number under the age of 25. For more information about B&Q please go to www.diy.com/aboutus. B&Q is part of Kingfisher plc, Europe’s leading home improvement retail group and the third largest in the world. For more information about B&Q’s parent company visit www.kingfisher.com
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