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Product Design student scoops four awards in international competition

Final year NTU student Mert Ali Bukulmez has achieved multiple award wins in the 2019-2020 edition of the A’design Award and Competition.

Bloom Succulent Grow Box and Grundig Serenity Tea Maker
The Bloom Succulent Dedicated Growbox and Grundig Serenity Tea Maker by Mert Ali Bukulmez

Established in 2010, the prestigious international design competition is the largest of its kind in the world, recognising excellent and original work from across the globe – with winners from 107 countries and over 100 different disciplines.

The BA (Hons) Product Design undergraduate received accolades in four categories: Beauty, Personal Care and Cosmetic Products Design; Fashion and Travel Accessories Design; Furniture Decorative Items and Homeware Design; and Home Appliances Design.

Winners are selected by a panel of industry renowned jury members, composed of established scholars, press members and professionals.

The awards have five different levels of distinction: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron.

Mert, who is an international student from Turkey, chose to enter projects that he worked on both during his studies at NTU and on his work placement with Arçelik A.Ş, a Turkish multinational household appliances manufacturer.

He was awarded the Silver A’design prize for the Bloom Succulent Dedicated Growbox – a stylish grow box that provides perfect conditions for succulents to thrive in urban homes, and the Grundig Serenity Tea Maker – a unique and contemporary tea making appliance that focuses on user experience.

Thank you to NTU and my tutors – they have taken the biggest role in my success by giving us an amazing education and motivating me every day.

The student also received Iron A’design awards for the Urbano Handle Bar – an innovative handlebar and carrying bag for bicycles, and the Alpha Series Shaver – a compact, semi-professional shaver that can handle the basic tasks for facial care and has hygienic solutions and beautiful aesthetics.

As well as receiving the A’design award, a symbol of excellence in the international design industry, the winners also receive a trophy, certificate and book, as well as PR, marketing and networking opportunities.

Mert Ali Bukulmez
Mert working on his designs whilst on placement

Mert said: “It was an amazing feeling to finally accomplish my dreams after many years of dedicated work. I will never forget my dad’s smile when I shared the news with my family.

“Being away from my family and loved ones has been the hardest part of my university education, even though I’ve had my best years at NTU. Thank you to NTU and my tutors – they have taken the biggest role in my success by giving us an amazing education and motivating me every day.”

Mert will be graduating this year from NTU and for his final project he is creating a communication aid for the elderly following the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He commented: “I was very concerned for the world at the start of this crisis that we are currently experiencing, and I believe the whole world needs creative minded people to overcome this situation. I changed my whole design brief when this started because I couldn’t think of anything other than this crisis.

“Lack of communication and being alone is the most terrifying thing for elderly people even in normal times. So, I wanted to design for them to aid the communication in these tough times in a simpler and joyful way, motivating them to stay strong in today’s conditions.”

Published on 14 May 2020
  • Subject area: Art and design
  • Category: Current students; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment