Applied Skills
Making Skills
Metal Work
Bending | Grinding | MIG Welding | Patination | Revit
Wood Work
Cutting | Sanding | Staining
Digital Making
Laser Engraving
Software Skills
Making
Illustrator
Design and produce a proposal trophy for The University of Edinburgh's 'People of CAHSS* Awards' for the winners of the most popular category, The Inspiring College Award.
The college is looking for innovative award designs that embody the themes and spirit of the People of CAHSS* through material and form. It is desirable the award is made from sustainable materials where possible.
*CAHSS: College of Art, Humanities, and Social Sciences
When:
January 2024 - February 2024
The Spark of Inspiration
Objective
To create a visual celebration of inspirational individuals who provide guidance and inspiration.
Considered factors
The award winner
The Inspiring Colleague Award description
The university community
Chosen theme: The Spark
The spark symbolises the ability of each individual to ignite inspiration in others.
A spark can be: inspiration, an idea, friendship, unity, or creativity
When considering what we could do, we began by interviewing a range of university staff members about what the trophy should represent and what it would mean to them if they won. What stood out most from this was the impact of being recognised by others, which made it essential that we design the trophy to give back the effort and commitment made by staff members. This inspired our theme of 'spark of inspiration' as the staff who win this award create a huge impact on the students they interact with, which may spark an idea for them.
We decided metal would showcase our narrative well due to the sparks it can produce when being worked with. To compliment the metal, wood was chosen as it shows the layers which can influence an idea.
Initial Sketches
Prototypes
The Final Model
Collaboration & Communication
Working on this project strengthened my ability to communicate ideas clearly—whether with teammates, technicians, or the design lead. Explaining our vision and ensuring alignment across different roles was a key part of the process.
Leadership & Adaptability
As one of the few non-exchange students in our group, I was familiar with the facilities and naturally took on a leadership role, leveraging my experience in metalwork. I encouraged input and collaboration from everyone, valuing diverse perspectives to refine our design. This experience reinforced the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and time management.