Masters Showcase 2026 Student Showcase: Eleanor Garratt
Student Spotlight featuring MA Design: Products and Furniture student, Eleanor Garratt, and her project.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 12 August 2026
Categories: Student Showcase; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
The project
Morphis has been created by MA Design: Products and Furniture student Eleanor Garratt as a reconfigurable storage system for domestic and home-based business environments. The aim was to create storage that could adapt to changing user needs rather than becoming unsuitable and being replaced. The design features movable internal shelves, adjustable storage boxes and removable external panels which allow users to change both the functionality and appearance of the product over time. The project explored how adaptability, personalisation and durability could encourage longer product ownership and reduce unnecessary furniture waste. The final product would combine a powder-coated steel frame with veneered plywood components to create a contemporary, practical and adaptable piece of furniture that can fit naturally within the home.
Eleanor wanted to design a storage product that could be adapted over time, increasing its useful lifespan. Image by Eleanor Garratt.
The inspiration behind the project
For Eleanor, Morphis was initially inspired by the lack of adaptable storage furniture on the market. She explains:
"There are lots of storage products, but I found that many have fixed layouts which don't allow users to change the way they store their belongings. This can result in wasted space and furniture being replaced when it no longer meets the user's needs. I wanted to explore whether storage could be designed to change alongside the user. I was particularly interested in creating something that could feel more personal and remain relevant over time, rather than being viewed as a purely functional product that could easily be thrown away."
The project experience
Eleanor says that working on her project has been challenging but also extremely rewarding.
"It involved taking an idea from initial research and sketches through to a full-scale working prototype, which meant constantly solving new problems along the way. Some of the most valuable parts were the stages where something didn't work as expected, as these pushed me to rethink and improve the design. Seeing the final product come together after months of research, development and manufacturing was incredibly satisfying. It has also taught me that a good design process isn't always straightforward, and being willing to adapt your ideas is an important part of creating a successful product."
Studying Product Design has helped develop Eleanor's creative and technical skills. Image by Eleanor Garratt.
Being part of NTU
Summing up her time at NTU, Eleanor says that it has given her the opportunity to develop both her creative and technical skills.
"Throughout the course, I have become much more confident in CAD, sketching, prototyping, and manufacturing as well as developing my ability to conduct research and use it to inform design decisions. Working on a project of this scale has also improved my organisation, problem-solving and time-management skills. Most importantly, I have learned how to take an idea from an initial concept through the full design process and turn it into a physical, working product."
One of her most memorable moments at NTU was having the opportunity to take part in Nottingham Light Night - the city's annual festival of glowing installations, interactive displays and performances.
"A light I designed and made during my first term was displayed at NTU as part of the event, where it could be seen by people across Nottingham," she says. "Seeing something I had designed and physically made being displayed publicly was a really exciting moment and made me feel proud of how far I had come. It was also a great reminder of how the skills and ideas developed throughout the course could lead to opportunities beyond the university studio."
Closing remarks
Asked to offer up some words of wisdom for future student, Eleanor says:
"My biggest piece of advice would be to make the most of every opportunity to experiment. Don't worry if your first ideas aren't perfect, as the best parts of a project often come from developing and changing your ideas along the way. Be prepared to spend a lot of time outside of the obvious design work researching, making, testing and solving problems. I would also recommend documenting everything, as small decisions and failed experiments can become really valuable later in the project.
"Most importantly, enjoy the process and don't be afraid to create something that is genuinely your own."
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