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Graduate Student’s innovative work to be sold by leading premium Boat manufacturer

Nottingham Trent University BA (Hons) Product Design student Henry Hearns has developed and designed a ribeye console which will go into production and be available for people to buy.

    Henry Hearns

    Ribeye Boats, the UK’s leading luxury Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) manufacturer, is set to unveil the latest addition to their superyacht tenders; the Cherrick console. This was developed and designed by Henry as a sponsored major project.

    Graduating from the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment this year, Henry’s successful project was for the company Ribeye’s Superyacht Tender Division, a section of the company that build specialist craft to service guests and crew of large motor yachts and sail yachts around the world.

    Henry Hearns said “I’m thrilled that my product will be sold nationwide.  It will certainly be a very proud day when I see the console being mounted to a boat for the first time. The accompanying sense of achievement is the reason I became a designer and started my course at NTU”.

    Henry designed the fibreglass construction, the wind deflector and the stainless steel hardware. This is in addition to engineered features such as the fully water-sealed front hatch with drainage channel to protect electronics from corrosion, as well as the ability to cut down the console by up to 150mm without compromising the structural integrity.

    Henry praised NTU’s support and assistance along the way to build his dreams.He said:

    “Over the years, the course has provided all the necessary technical skills and information required to tackle a complex brief. The University was professional and encouraging when the Head Designer at Ribeye came to NTU for my final interview for the placement.

    “In terms of the project itself, my tutor at NTU has been an invaluable contact throughout. His wise words, direction and input helped mould the project to be the best it could be.”

    Henry came up with the idea through a combination of detailed support from NTU and Ribeye and an accumulation of first-hand experience from working in Ribeye’s Design & Engineering Department on a twelve month placement as part of Henry’s degree. Building an understanding of the processes involved from the experts at the company, in addition to the overarching experience of interacting with the entire spectrum of staff, clients and students at both NTU and Ribeye had an invaluable impact on the outcome of the project.

    Henry’s project will be on display at Show, the university’s art and design degree show, a series of exhibitions showcasing the very best of emerging contemporary art and design practice created by final year students. It is completely free to attend with doors opening to the public on Saturday 1 June until Sunday 9 June.

    Follow #NTUDegreeShow on Instagram to keep up to date with events and behind the scenes activity.

    • Notes for editors

      Notes for editors

      Press enquiries please contact Chris Birkle, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 2310, or via email; or Dave Rogers, Head of Communications, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email.

      About Nottingham Trent University

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was named University of the Year 2019 in the Guardian University Awards. The award was based on performance and improvement in the Guardian University Guide, retention of students from low-participation areas and attainment of BME students. NTU was also the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2017, and The Times and Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2018. These awards recognise NTU for its high levels of student satisfaction, its quality of teaching, its engagement with employers, and its overall student experience.

      The university has been rated Gold in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest ranking available.

      It is one of the largest UK universities. With nearly 32,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across four campuses, the University contributes £900m to the UK economy every year. With an international student population of more than 3,000 from around 100 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook

      The university is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable NTU to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. A total of 82% of its graduates go on to graduate entry employment or graduate entry education or training within six months of leaving. Student satisfaction is high: NTU achieved an 88% satisfaction score in the 2018 National Student Survey.

      NTU is also one of the UK’s most environmentally friendly universities, containing some of the sector’s most inspiring and efficient award-winning buildings.

      NTU is home to world-class research, and won The Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 – the highest national honour for a UK university. It recognised the University’s pioneering projects to improve weapons and explosives detection in luggage; enable safer production of powdered infant formula; and combat food fraud.

    Published on 7 June 2019
    • Subject area: Architecture and civil engineering
    • Category: Press office; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment