Forty Year 10 product design students at Frome College submitted their lighting designs for this year’s final of the Frome Rotary Club 2017 Young Lighting Designer Competition.
Rotarian Mike Darville and product design teacher Brin Newton carried out the first round of judging and 16 were shortlisted to go into the next round of judging for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Frome College was delighted that this year Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs was willing to take part in the competition as a main judge with owner Nick Cook of Fiat Lux Lighting in Frome.
Kevin McCloud started his career as a very successful lighting designer so had a professional interest in the achievements of Frome College product design students; and now he is a customer of Fiat Lux Lighting. Both judges wanted to inspire the next generation of lighting designers by sponsoring and awarding students for their innovative designs.
Students were given a design brief for producing creative and innovative lampshades for Fiat Lux Lighting, to design a lampshade that could either be used as a desk light, ceiling light or wall light. It should be original, modern or attractive.
Matthew Haines’ winning product was a decorative wall light with a light symbol that lit up, the modern looking blue frosted design could also double up as a freestanding table light. The judges liked the commercial potential of the minimalist design.
With great interest from Kevin McCloud, the second prize went to Ellis Evans for his branded Twist-A-Light; a clever folding polypropylene light shade enabled the product to be compact for retail packaging and then twists into its full shape ready to use. A twisting bulb holder was also a design feature that makes the product easy to use when changing the light bulb. Ellis designed the packaging to go with the product because he felt it was important to get across the unique selling point of his design.
Rhiannon James’ third prize table lamp was inspired from a waterfall. Rich blues and green Origami triangles created a modern lampshade that would appeal to all ages and genders. The shade was supported on a tripod stand made of beech and the frame for the lamp shade was spot-welded in steel by Rhiannon. All judges felt it was an attractive contemporary design and Nick Cook from Fiat Lux Lighting said it would fit easily into the range of products that he sells in his shop.
A Special Consideration Award was given to Ben Miles by the judges for his extra hard work in presenting not only a demanding electronic table lamp, but also Ben included a promotional poster and instructions. His design was based on a retro style of the popular game in the early 80s Pac-Man. The light was powered by 12v battery for portability which energised a variety of LED options that could be individual turned on and off by a control panel. The Pac-Man shade could swivel and be tilted up or down.
The award ceremony was held at Fiat Lux Lighting in Frome where Rotary president-elect Chris Page, Nick Cook and Frome College principal, Gavin Ball, presented the four awards for outstanding originality and creativity shown by the students. Each student received a classic anglepoise light and a cash prize from the sponsors. They also received an engraved plaque and certificate from the Rotary Club of Frome.
Rotary president-elect Chris Page thanked the sponsors Kevin McCloud, Nick Cook and participating judges for supporting the competition and making it a prestigious event for the students who had devoted a lot of time and effort developing their designs. Twelve students also received runners-up certificates who made it to the short list of finalists. Gavin Ball also praised the creative talents of the Frome College students and thanked the Rotary Club of Frome for organising the competition.
