Slate North
During our third year, instead of a traditional placement at a company, I had the pleasure of starting a company with two other students, Mike and Sam
We started Slate North, a product design consultancy in Sheffield. We worked with companies large and small, independent and international, as well as creating our own products in the downtime between clients.
The first images show our own phone case, that we designed and manufactured in-house.
We designed and developed a tool belt, for the train conductors at Northern Rail. The system allows access to the keys for opening doors, this panel can be attached to the belt, the money bag, or the notebook bag, depending on the conductors' preference. The money bag has a hidden compartment at the back, for high-value notes. The bag system is currently undergoing trials with Northern Rail employees.
We reimagined, reconditioned scissors from the 1960s for Ernest Wright. Through a rigorous process in many materials, we were able to keep the same exterior silhouette, while making the scissors much more comfortable, and able to open a bottle. After a successful £250000 Kickstarter campaign, the Kutrite pattern will be delivered soon.
Ben at BLS Innovations had an idea, a clip to hold the cord of a hedge trimmer safe and out of the way when in use. Unfortunately, he had no idea how to bring it to reality. We tested his core concept and helped him create his idea. Including adding a magnetic safety breakaway, this will ensure that if the hedge trimmer is dropped, or if the user falls, that the hedge trimmer and the user will go their separate ways.
Our final and ongoing project is a series of bottles for local brewery Fuggle Bunny. They already have a strong brand, with a story in chapters for each beer.The character in these stories is Fuggle, the bunny, we made him and the chapter number the focal point for the branding on the bottles.This gives a distinctive, bold and bright look which should jump out on the shelves.