On February 26th the Shape 2015 (formerly Design Tech) winners were announced at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Shape 2015 showcases projects by 25 of the best 2015 HSC design and technology, industrial technology and textile and design students in New South Wales. The awards were developed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) NSW in association with the Museum of Applied Arts and Science (MAAS) to discover the innovation and potential of NSW’s recent HSC graduates.

Three of the 25 students, Jacky Chen, Aron Sheldon and John Walsh, are now studying at UNSW School of Built Environment in the Architecture, Computational Design and Industrial Design courses respectively.

Above: UNSW Industrial Design Director, Steve Ward presenting Aron Sheldon, inventor of PooCH with his UNSW School of Built Environment sponsored Sustainability Award. All images: Benjamin Townsend www.btphotography.com.au

Aron Sheldon, who went to Trinity Grammar in Summer Hill, won the UNSW School of Built Environment Award for Sustainability and $500 cash for his dog waste system called PooCH. Aron was also invited to exhibit and was presented his award by Steve Ward, UNSW Industrial Design Director. Jacky Chen, who went to Dulwich High School, designed a residential apartment block called The Domain and was selected to exhibit. John Walsh was also invited to exhibit his invention called Screwax, a product that dispenses surfboard wax in a similar style to a glue stick. (Scroll down for a Q&A with all three designers.)

Above: UNSW Architecture student, Jacky Chen with his winning HSC project, The Domain, a sustainable residential apartment block.

Above: Keen surfer and UNSW Industrial Design student, John Walsh, with his Screwax invention.

Steve Ward noted during his speech, “There is more than one dimension to sustainability such as economic and environmental. Design also supports social sustainability with objects and systems in the public domain (like litter bins) that give us signals and the means of meeting social expectations. The winning design looks ready for manufacture, with suitable materials and evident knowledge of how materials can be formed and joined. This immediately extends its social/environmental coverage and impact because it could be installed anywhere.”

With the new Federal Government launching the National Innovation and Science Agenda with a $1.1 billion package of ideas, these students couldn’t have been recognised at a more important time. As Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant said, “In an era when innovation will be key to success, the crossover between form and function will be an increasing feature in future design. These students are an inspiration for their ingenuity and their imagination.”

You can see all the students’ products and designs now. Scroll down for exhibition details and interviews with Jacky Chen, Aron Sheldon and John Walsh.

UNSW School of Built Environment students and staff are proud to welcome these three young innovators to our school and congratulations on your Shape 2015 awards.

 

UNSW School of Built Environment spoke with Aron, Jacky and John about their ideas, what’s it like to win and what they are most looking forward to in their first year at UNSW School of Built Environment.

ARON SHELDON

Which high school did you attend?

I went to Trinity Grammar School in Summer Hill from years eight to 12, prior to that I was at Concord High School for year seven.

Name of your product or concept?

PooCH – a new era in dog waste bin design

What gave you the inspiration for your product or idea? How did your idea or concept come to you?

I have a dog and live next to a park with a dog waste bin. I noticed that dog waste bins were often an eyesore and were not really doing the job as well as they could. So I started researching and discovered that there was a sustainability and urban living issue also. More and more people are living in medium density housing, and our green spaces are more important than ever as areas of enjoyment for everyone.  At the same time, waste and what to do with it, is an increasing issue as our population grows. My research showed that there are about 4.2 Million dogs in Australia producing roughly 1300 tonnes of dog waste per day which goes into landfill we are running out of space for landfill putting pressure on councils to reduce waste. For my project I spoke to a number of councils and found out there was generally no consistent approach to dog waste facilities throughout their parks and maintenance of dog waste bins was also an issue.

My final design and the resolution to the problem:

I decided to create PooCH - an integrated dog waste bin and onsite composting system. As it was a school project there were limitations on what I could achieve in the timeframe, so I focused on prototyping the dog waste bin itself and designed it in a way that the composting system can be added in the future. PooCH addresses issues of aesthetics, function, environmental impact and people’s behaviour.

The motto I like to use for PooCH it’s as easy as “step, flip, flick”.

STEP - the bin is hands-free – the lid to the bin is a foot operated lid (so that it is more hygienic for users). They STEP on the pedal, the lid FLIPS open and they FLICK the waste into the bin.

PooCH has a bio-degradable bag dispenser integrated into its design which releases one bag at a time - for dog owners to pick up after their dog.

When the waste is put into PooCH, it is fully enclosed in the bin. It’s not exposed to flies, vermin or weather and the waste can’t enter waterways or expose us to dangerous bacteria. The design minimises odours because the waste is fully contained.  The aesthetics of PooCH are important – because not everyone using a park is a dog lover, and everyone should be able to enjoy our parks.

The idea for the shape of PooCH came to me while kicking a soccer ball out the front of a garage. I noticed someone’s Apple computer box, with the Apple product on the side; this was my spark for the form of PooCH.

To encourage users to engage with PooCH I designed the bin to echo the clean lines and finishes of Apple products and household stainless steel appliances in general.  The colours, curved edges and lines of these items create a sense of cleanliness, hygiene and positive engagement with the product.  And this is what I wanted for PooCH so that it could be a part of any urban environment.

The strong graphic of the dog was to immediately and simply communicate to users its purpose and be easily and consistently recognised in any park in the country.

I also considered Work Health and Safety in how to improve servicing of the bin for council workers; creating simple and easy side access.

Which award did you win?

UNSW Sustainability in Design Award for Shape 2015

What does it mean to you to win this award?

It means a lot to win this award, as it feels like an acknowledgement of the hard work I have put into the project over the last year and shows the quality of work that I am capable of. It’s great that UNSW supports programs such as Shape 2015, which inspires the next generation of designers. 

Which course will you do at UNSW this year?

I’ve just started the Bachelor of Computational Design, UNSW School of the Built Environment

What helped you decide on that course?

My passion for design led me to this course. From playing on Google SketchUp through High School I was interested in the possibilities of designing with technology. I felt this course would challenge me and keep me in touch with rapidly changing technologies and their impact on the design process.   

Is there one thing you can talk about that you are looking forward to the most when you start your study in your chosen course?

I am most looking forward to learning how to use the new software platforms and experiment with creating new and innovative buildings and products. And to learning and working with like-minded students, and lecturers from Australia and around the world. And uni life of course!!

What do you think would like to do after you finish your degree? Work locally, work overseas, maybe travel, is there a particular country you want to work in, is there a particular company that you hope to work for?

I would like to work in a global context in a design or architecture firm overseas. I love Bauhaus design and would like to extend my study and work opportunities in countries like Germany and the United States. I enjoy photography and love buildings. I’m interested in the idea of creating sustainable cities. These goals may sound generic but wherever I go and whatever I do it will be involving design and making things.

Above: Woof! Aron Sheldon with his Apple Inc inspired dog waste system for public spaces.

Above: Aron Sheldon receiving his Shape 2015 certificate.

Above: The “PooCH” is designed to stop odours, make disposing of Fido’s waste quickly and are low maintenance for councils.

JACKY CHEN

Which high school did you attend?

Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design

Name of your product or concept?

For my Design and Technology HSC Major Project, I designed a residential apartment block “The Domain” which addresses 21st-century living and features a myriad of sustainable and innovative applications of technology such as green walls, ETFE (a fluoroplastic building material) and tri-generators.

What gave you the inspiration for your product or idea? How did your idea or concept come to you?

Design and Technology require students to respond to the needs of the target market and trends in society. During the development of the design brief, Sydney was experiencing a period of rapid population growth and gentrification within the suburbs which ultimately formed the basis of my design brief. 

Which award did you win?

In the 2015 HSC, I was ranked 4th in the state for Design and Technology and was the selected for the inaugural 2015 SHAPE Exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum as well as a statewide regional gallery tour and also received the Premier’s Award for Best All-Rounder.

What does it mean to you to win this award?

It was great to win such a prestigious award and know that 12 years of hard work has finally paid off. Winning the award will just motivate and encourage me to continue to commit myself and go for gold.

Which course will you do at UNSW this year?

This year I’ll be studying Architectural Studies full time.

What helped you decide on that course?

I was actually introduced to architecture only a couple of years ago in visual arts at High School and secured a scholarship to the Architecture Summer School at UTS which deepened my aspirations to study architecture. I was later shown the early works of Jason Tang, an Architecture student from UNSW which ultimately inspired and convinced me to study architecture.

Is there one thing you can talk about that you are looking forward to the most when you start your study in your chosen course?

I’m particularly looking forward to building up my skills with different CAD software to model buildings and environments as well as meeting people who are also passionate about studying architecture.

What do you think you would like to do after you finish your degree? Work locally, work overseas, maybe travel, is there a particular country you want to work in, is there a particular company that you hope to work for?

I’ve actually never thought about working for a particular company or in a particular country. I’ll definitely pursue a career in architecture and hopefully, that’ll take me across the world and give me an opportunity to work for various companies to broaden my experience.

Above: Jacky Chen’s sustainable residential development, The Domain.

Above: Jacky Chen accepts his Shape 2015 award.

JOHN WALSH

Which high school did you attend?

Newington College

Name of your product or concept?

Screwax, a surf wax product that uses a twist up mechanism similar to a glue stick, with other added features.

What gave you the inspiration for your product or idea? How did your idea or concept come to you?

I was familiar with the marketplace due to my interest in surfing and have had first-hand experience with the problems that my product solves. Including the failure of the current products on the market to successfully contain the wax after use.

Which award did you win?

I received a Shape 2015 award and my work is on display at the exhibition.

What does it mean to you to win this award?

I was very happy and fulfilled with my major work being selected. I worked very hard on it throughout year 12. I feel honoured for the recognition from the markers and exhibition selectors.

Which course will you do at UNSW this year?

Industrial design

What helped you decide on that course?

A number of factors went into the decision of this course including the honours program which is not available at other universities but it ultimately came down to the career that I would like to peruse as well as the convenience of going to UNSW, as I live in Maroubra.

Is there one thing you can talk about that you are looking forward to the most when you start your study in your chosen course?

I am looking forward to learning more about industrial design on a broader scope.

What do you think you would like to do after you finish your degree? Work locally, work overseas, maybe travel, is there a particular country you want to work in, is there a particular company that you hope to work for?

My perfect outcome would be to work and live locally, whether that is for a company or branching out on my own. I would love to travel throughout Indonesia surfing and spend a lot of time with mates. At the moment I am very open to all possibilities and opportunities, I am just sitting in the passenger seat willing to go anywhere and enjoy the ride.

Above: John Walsh invented Screwax because he was frustrated with the current products available.

Above: John Walsh accepts his Shape 2015 award.

All images: Benjamin Townsend www.btphotography.com.au