Showcase 2024 Student Spotlight: Alby Stokes

The project

Inspired by traditional food storage techniques, the Terracotta Food Storage uses the natural cooling properties of terracotta to keep fresh produce fresher for longer. Focusing on the need to reduce food waste within the home, the salad storage encourages the user to consume their produce before it goes over, without it being lost at the back of the fridge. By just running the main container under the cold tap for 1 minute, the temperature inside remains a few degrees below room temperature for days. Suitable for a whole range of food that benefits from “a cool dark place”.

The inspiration behind the project

With the brief from Howdens aiming to reduce their overall carbon emissions, Alby thought that the focus should be on the global issue of food waste. Emissions created by the kitchen users represents the largest amount of carbon emissions for Howdens so focusing on how this could be improved was a challenge she wanted tackle. Terracotta is used in many countries as a traditional way of cooling fresh produce, from Spanish Botijo water containers to Indian terracotta fridges. This sparked Alby's research into how this could be used in a modern setting and how it could be used in the kitchen to reduce the quantity of food stored in the fridge.

Being part of NTU

NTU has been a great place for Alby to grow as a designer, the wide range of projects that students have done throughout first and second year has been in preparation of the openness of final year. Working on live briefs and collaborative projects with Howdens, Pearson Lloyd, SCP and Modus has given a broad understanding of the furniture market from high end brands to large scale commercial production.

Alby's time at NTU has opened the opportunity to work in commercial or contract furniture with the variety of projects undertaken offering a vast array of products which can be used to tailor a portfolio towards any potential employer. It has allowed him to improve on skills which go beyond the normal curriculum like mold making, ceramics and sewing as well as priceless soft skills like collaboration, presenting and communication. The opportunity to present to influential people within huge companies like Howdens and Habitat has been a great experience and was not something that he expected when he applied to university.

Closing Remarks

University is a great opportunity to take risks in your work and explore whatever design and manufacture methods you want. Take this time to try new and innovative processes, push your lecturer's expectations and you will produce work which you can be truly proud of. Working within the collaborative studio spaces and engaging with other students is priceless, everyone brings different perspectives, experiences and opinions that will help you become a rounded and skilled designer.

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