USW Student Designs Workplace Of The Future

An Interior Design student at the University of South Wales has come up with a winning design for a futuristic workplace. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

James Gould, 26, from Ely in Cardiff, came first in the Workplace of the Future challenge, run by office design experts Interaction. The second year student fought off competition from across the UK with his concept – a transportable, multi-purpose research base. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The idea involves researchers, scientists and conservationists being able to conduct long-term experiments, studies and public awareness from a temporary base of operations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The base includes living and working areas for a small team of people, with a skeletal design structure designed to leave little impact on the planet. Using an eco-friendly and lightweight approach to material use, it has the ability to stand in a variety of locations by raising it from the ground. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fellow student Denitsa Yordanova, also in her second year, was named as a runner-up in the competition, which was sponsored by sustainable furniture makers Vitra. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Catherine Makin, Brand Manager at Interaction, said: “James demonstrated a very clear thought process through a series of images that told the story, which gives us a unique solution to the workplace of the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The standard for the whole competition was extremely high, and all the students put in a considerable amount of effort. A very well done to all participants from myself and the team.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Heddus Davies, Lecturer in Interior Design at USW, said: “This competition has been a fantastic opportunity for our students, and we’re delighted that James’ work has been recognised in this way. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“He put so much work into his submission and we are really impressed with the final design. It’s important that our students are always thinking of how spaces need to evolve for the future, and this idea encapsulates those solutions brilliantly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

James, who is in his second year, said: “Winning the competition was totally unexpected as I never thought I had a chance of winning. Knowing we were up against two other universities and seeing all the great projects by other finalists made me a little nervous, but it was a fantastic experience and I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The six finalists will visit the Vitra headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, in June as part of the competition prize. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

James added: “Going to Basel will be amazing, as it’s not somewhere I would have ever experienced, and we’ll get to see iconic furniture designs from legendary designers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​