Showcase 2024 Student Spotlight: Sam Russell
Student Spotlight featuring BSc (Hons) Product Design, Sam Russell, and his project, 'Seaway'.
By Antonio Cuyas | Published on 10 May 2024
Categories: Student Showcase; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
The project
Seaway is a navigation light, utilised by sailors in night-time or adverse weather conditions to alert other sailors of their presence on the water. It is powered using a combination of wind and solar energy, where the battery is continuously topped up via trickle charging, eradicating the need for any wiring. It features a quick release mounting system, allowing sailors to quickly access the light with a singular Allen key for repair or maintenance.
The inspiration
The inspiration for this project stems from the necessity of having lights onboard vessels while at sea, which is mandatory according to regulations set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Currently, these lights are fixed on the masthead, but their installation involves running long wires from the lights to the yacht's batteries. This not only poses significant installation challenges but also results in a considerable drain on the vessel's limited power resources.
As a consequence, sailors sometimes resort to turning off these lights to conserve battery charge, inadvertently violating maritime regulations. Seaway aims to address these issues by developing a more efficient installation process and reducing the dependence on the vessel's main battery. This was achieved by integrating renewable energy sources into the lighting system.
Being part of NTU
Sam's university journey has been a continuous process of self-discovery and growth, particularly as he's pursued a career in design. Sam learned to navigate the delicate balance between design for innovation and design for manufacture, a lesson that was reinforced during his placement at a design consultancy in Bristol. Working with a collaborative and supportive team, he gained invaluable insight into the industry.
As a Deaf designer, Sam found great support from the product design lecturers at NTU. Their genuine care and commitment to providing quality support to all students, including himself, has been so encouraging. Additionally, through university Sam has had the opportunity to contribute to design research papers, further enriching his experience in the field.
Closing remarks
Be passionate, at the end of the day, university is so much more than just earning a degree. It's a transformative journey and its about exploring your own identity as a designer and defining what truly matters to you, it's been an incredibly refreshing and enriching experience. Looking back at how much I've grown from my first year until now fills me with excitement, and I can't wait for the journey ahead, knowing there's still so much more to learn and discover.
Want to find out more?
Visit the Student Showcase website and follow our Instagram account for more student features.