Creative Midlands East

Creative Midlands East

mbrela launches at National Centre for Craft and Design

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:18 AM PDT


mbrela is the collaboration between three Product Design and Industrial Design programmes, based at three international universities: BA (Hons) Product Design here at the University of Lincoln, Industrial Design at Philadelphia University, and Industrial Design at San Jose State University, both in the US.

The exhibition is currently showing in the roof gallery of the National Centre for Craft and Design, and runs until 4 November.  The exhibition offers the visitor a glimpse of the collection of products which were designed and created collaboratively by the staff and students across the continents, through the use of blogging, Skype, and research visits.

The collection of fresh, exciting and fun products features 'Dragg', a luminescent blue coloured rope light, designed by Michael Palmer, Lincoln;


'Sykho' a chair that rocks mysteriously when it is not occupied, designed by Chris Gray, Lincoln;



 'Zoomster', a children's toy ride that can be decorated by its owner, designed by John O'Leary, Lincoln;




and 'Denrug', a rug which lets you clamber inside and make a den, designed by Brenden Feucht and Greg Sunderman, both from Philadelphia University, together with Joseph Rimmer from Lincoln.




Participating students Fran Knight (designer of Milk Light) and John Gill, trying out 'Boksy', designed by Cameron Cole, Lotte de Jong, and Brian Boidin, all from University of Lincoln.


'Notch Light' by Adam Leeming.  An inner light is revealed when the blocks surrounding the light are moved or removed.



A welcome evening was held last week, when guest speakers from both Lincoln and Philadelphia gave an insight into how the project first started, the collaboration itself, and the exhibitions resulting from the collaboration, right across the globe, from Milan, to New York, to Baltimore.  This is the first time the collection can be seen by the general public in its entirety in the UK.



Staff and students above from Philadelphia University joined us for this special evening.

George Crane, Director of UK based design company Slam Design is an integral member of the mbrela collaboration as Lincoln's Level 3 Major Project this year is a collaboration between Lincoln and Philadelphia to produce a range of ideas, concepts and proposals for Slam Design to introduce new product ranges.  The two studios have already communicated through Skype and the recent 'Brick & Mortar' session and will continue to develop ideas for presentations to George in the near future and continually as ideas evolve.

Doris Wells-Papanek visits University of Lincoln

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:42 AM PDT



The BA (Hons) Product Design programme is delighted to welcome Doris Wells-Papanek to the University this Sunday 14 October from 6-00 - 8-00pm in the Co-op lecture theatre.

Doris Wells-Papanek, M.Ed, based in the greater Chicago area, collaborates with educators, practitioners, and learners to design and research tailored learning experiences. Doris has coached learners of all ages, authored multiple papers, and presented at national and international conferences. As partner of Greenleaf & Papanek Publications, Doris has co-authored five books on student-centered learning. With over 25 years of experience in human interaction design, she has developed change strategies, managed creative teams, and conducted human-centered action research studies.

Doris has collaborated with companies such as Apple, Xerox, Lotus, Hewlett-Packard, Siemens, Philips, and Intuit and learning organisations such as Chicago Public Schools, Waukegan Public Schools.

Doris will be presenting on the subject of Kindergarten through to Yr12 design education in the US alongside Professor Anne Chick, Stewart Bibby who will present on The Big Toy Factory and mbrela Jr. and Les Porter who will present on the Design & Technology Forum.  You are invited to attend as the Product programme continues to build its involvement in the Big Toy Factory.

For further information, contact Programme Leader BA (Hons) Product Design, Stewart Bibby.

Lincoln Animator working on Snowman 2

Posted: 09 Oct 2012 04:22 AM PDT



2012 BA (Hons) Animation graduate Lara Carvalho, who was awarded Best Student in Animation 2012, joined Lupus Films earlier this summer.

Lupos Studios have been working on Snowman 2, and Lara was selected, after Animation's visiting tutor and Lupos' lead animator, Peter Dodd, put her forward. Lara is based on the production as a junior Artist / Animator.

Snowman 2 will be screened later this year as a Christmas special for Channel 4.

The Snowman 2
The magic begins again!

"From the team that brought you the original Snowman comes a new half hour Christmas special featuring the worlds's favourite Christmas character.  The film will re-unite viewers with their beloved Snowman, this time in a brand new adventure with a new set of friends.  The new film will use the same hand-drawn animation technique as the original, to best replicate the beautiful illustrative style of Raymond Briggs' drawings.  The film will be completed in time for broadcast at Christmas 2012, which is the 30th anniversary of the original Snowman film" (Lupos Films).
Posted by Creative Midlands at 10/10/2012 12:06:00 pm

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