Matthew
Russell-Smith

Placement company: A4plus Design Consultancy

What made you choose to study at NTU?

“Many of my friends who had studied at NTU recommended it to me, and when I attended a post-offer open day it confirmed by choice.”

Can you tell us about your work placement at A4plus Design Consultancy?

“I sourced my placement through a fellow student who worked at the company. It was a fantastic placement and I got to work on a variety of projects, all of which helped me to develop my knowledge of design and engineering. I notably improved my technical drawing skills, and I enjoyed working with everyone in the team as they were all very supportive.”

Have you been involved in any live projects or exciting briefs?

“I have been involved in two live projects in which I have experience great success. The first was a project with McGee looking at cycle safety with HGV's. Working with a fellow student, I designed an adaptive wheel guard with an aim to reduce fatalities due to collisions between cyclists and HGV's. Following the success of the project, we were invited to present our design to Volvo!

“The second live project I worked on was with PepsiCo. It involved looking at the display and sales of Walkers six pack crisps. My group and I won! We designed a system that kept the shelving displays neat and tidy whilst keeping a constant supply of packets at the front of the shelves. We are currently waiting to hear back from PepsiCo to find out if they would like to take the design further.”

What do you like the most about your course?

“I particularly enjoyed working on my user centred design project in my first year, which has also been similar to my major study project in my final year. I like to design for people and make a difference. The level of detail and depth you are required to go into on your major project is a great challenge!”

Can you tell us more about your final year project Stopple Watch?

"Stopple watch is a smartwatch that I designed to help the elderly if they encounter a fall in the home. I came up with the idea after my grandparents experienced falls in their own home. The watch alerts pre-determined contacts if a serious injury occurs. It works by tracking information such as a person’s pulse or movement, and when it detects a change in a person’s health, will send information to a touch screen hub located in the home.

"I hope my design will prevent elderly people experiencing the same trauma as my grandparents, whilst still enabling them to keep their independence. My grandpa once fell and was unable to move and he couldn’t call for help.

"I found that existing products on the market such as emergency pendants can often be unattractive. I kept style in mind when designing Stopple Watch as well as ease of use."

What do you think about the staff on your course?

“They are very supportive and always happy to help. They’re great at encouraging you to push the boundaries.”

What do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?

“Nottingham is a very social city and you can walk almost anywhere. It offers a fun and upbeat environment to work and socialise in.”

What advice would you give to a prospective student thinking about studying BSc Product Design at NTU?

“Immerse yourself in everything that the course has to offer – the more you put in, the more you get out.”

Where do you hope to be in five years?

“I hope to have started my own business with fellow students at NTU. We will offer product development services as well as consultancy.”