Product Design

17-22 November 12noon-4pm Weekdays, 10am-4pm Sat/Sun
Wickliffe Press Building, Albany Street

Product design is a profession which aims to enhance or improve people’s experiences and environments. Our students are encouraged to become strong independent thinkers who will through thoughtful design, have a positive effect on the world. Ideate showcases student designs from all three years of the Bachelor of Design (product). Student projects featured in the exhibition include innovative approaches to designing everyday objects, furniture and lighting designs, transport solutions, gaming and working with groups in the community on design solutions to important societal issues.

Design is a vital component of New Zealand’s most successful businesses. If you want to be a part of this dynamic industry, come along and see what this immersive programme can offer. Located alongside the exciting new Product Development Centre featuring the latest in computer controlled prototyping equipment, the Bachelor of Design (product) is the only product design degree in the South Island.

Otago Polytechnic Product Design student Juliet Symes has been awarded silver in the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) Best Design Awards (Student Category) for her ‘Dusi’ Tea Kettle.

“The brief I set was to enter an international design competition called 'Tea-Off' to design a teakettle,” Juliet explains. “I followed those guidelines but narrowed it down to designing an appliance that functioned as both a teapot and kettle in one.

“I started by researching past and current models and tea rituals. My main inspiration for the form was a Bauhaus teapot I came across in that research. I figure though, a kettle is a kettle so I really wanted to just focus on getting an emotive, beautiful form.”

The kettle is designed to boil on the stove. Tea leaves go in the spout, which also functions as a scoop.

Juliet’s design attracted significant interest internationally after she was a finalist in the NZ Dyson Awards for the same product, however agreements for the manufacture of the kettle fell through.

Juliet studied a Certificate in Interior Design in Auckland before moving to Dunedin three years ago and originally began to study the Bachelor of Design in Interiors before her love of furniture design drew her to study Product Design.

Already one of her designs – a flat-sheet poly-propolene lamp – is being stocked and distributed nationwide by the Port Chalmers Design Store.

Juliet attended the Awards Night at the Auckland Museum on October 16.