Dezeen School Shows: a breathable uniform designed for nurses going through menopause is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Northumbria University.

Also included is a stereo system that requires the desired song to be written down before playing it and a table for practising Chinese tea rituals that is made from western-sourced wood that aims to combine the heritage of both cultures.

Northumbria University

Institution: Northumbria University
School: School of Design
Course: BA (Hons) Product Design
Tutors: Tommy Dylan, Howard Fenwick, Anthony Forsyth, Ian Hewitt, Matthew Lievesley, David Parkinson, Simon Scott-Harden, Josh South, John Sproats, Rose Wong and Marco Zilvetti

School statement:

"The BA (Hons) Product Design course at Northumbria University, formerly known as 'Design for Industry', teaches students to create designs that tackle current and future challenges.

"While focused on the design of physical artefacts, our approach embraces wider disciplines including experience and digital design so that students leave us with a skillset suited to current design careers.

"You will learn to create design concepts that are commercially viable, addressing user needs and behaviours.

"At the same time, we promote a responsible approach to design, meaning that you will always consider the social and environmental impacts of your design decisions."

Sana by Christy Davidson

"Sana is a standardised nurse uniform that incorporates ventilation to assist in regulating body temperature. It is inspired by the experiences of nurses going through menopause who found themselves working in poorly designed uniforms and inefficient buildings.

"Sana is also comprised of other innovations making a well-rounded garment for the wearer, such as functional ergonomic pockets, a modest and comfortable neckline, an inter-changeable rank patch, clear department signifier and a lightweight and comfortable bamboo fabric."

Student: Christy Davidson

Osmo by Natalie Edge

"Osmo consists of three smart products and an app that aims to improve the hydration of older people. The Measuring Mug uses weight to measure fluid intake, which is displayed on the Hydration Hub.

"The Hub shows progress towards the user's goal number of drinks. The Reminder Device uses movement to prompt the user to hydrate, set at appropriate intervals when recent fluid intake has not been detected.

"The Osmo App enables a tailored product experience based on user needs. Tangible reminding and awareness build positive habits improving hydration and in turn health and wellbeing."

Student: Natalie Edge

Terra-Nova by Gruff Jones

"Terra-nova is an experimental set of three unobtrusive smart home devices. The thermostat, smart assistant and light controller probe current norms of technology in our homes, promoting interactions that are more about human feeling and less about digital information.

"Each device takes inspiration from the material properties of terracotta – heat insulation, acoustic insulation and light reflection – to form these interactions.

"Utilising terracotta as its core material importantly challenges the use of plastics in our home devices, with a 100 per cent natural and recyclable material."

Student: Gruff Jones

Mortar by Jai Mistry

"Mortar is a unique product designed to enable individuals to prepare their own health shots. By simply twisting the stone cap, users initiate a juicing process where an automated auger drill effectively crushes and grinds the ingredients.

"The resulting waste material is conveniently compacted into a puck for effortless disposal. Additionally, the device features USB charging for added convenience.

"Mortar introduces a sense of ritual to the process of making juice shots, aiming to inspire and encourage long-term adoption of healthy lifestyle choices."

Student: Jai Mistry

Cari by Johnny Page

"This convenient, mess-free emollient applicator gives people with dry skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, the freedom and flexibility to effectively manage flare-ups on the go.

"Cari is hygienic, easy to control and convenient to refill with easily recyclable pods. It enables users to unobtrusively carry emollients and protect their skin from triggers and infections.

"You can customise the type of emollient, the applicator head, and the case to suit your preferences, empowering you to take control over their condition and give you back a sense of normality."

Student: Johnny Page

Milk It by Rebecca Newton

"To reduce dairy waste within the home, Milk It embraces the positive qualities of milk as it sours, discovering uses beyond being a drinking product.

"Developing flavours and leavening properties make souring milk ideal for cooking and baking.

"Milk It includes a packaging and brand design, inspired by products that romanticise ageing. This includes a biosensor product that accurately measures sourness meanwhile displaying the milk's ideal use – either drinking, cooking, baking or non-food uses – and an app to browse complimentary recipes.

"These elements come together to increase milk's intrinsic value, reduce ambiguity and instil confidence in utilising souring milk within the home."

Student: Rebecca Newton

RockSolid Breeze by Dom Smith

"RockSolid Breeze is a fully rechargeable and sustainable fan that reduces the use of chalk while climbing by drying climbers' hands.

"Chalk is used to dry and increase friction between fingers and rock. However, it can change the pH level of surface rock, killing living organisms and staining the rock itself.

"Chalk is mostly mined in China and after going through various processes it is far from being sustainable or environmentally friendly. The Breeze mimics the size and way in which a chalk bag is used, so it falls in place of current habits without changing them."

Student: Dom Smith

Rove by Rob Swan

"Rove revolutionises the concept of roving by providing anglers with a convenient and comfortable solution to move effortlessly between fishing spots.

"By combining portable seating and storage into one unit, Rove enables users to carry their chair and tackle in a single, practical package.

"With Rove, anglers can navigate challenging terrains, gates, and riverbanks with ease, freeing their hands to handle rods and tackle without any hindrance.

"Experience roving like never before with Rove’s innovative design."

Student: Rob Swan

Chá Table by Helen Wat

"The Chá Table is a low table for hosting Chinese tea rituals, honouring the heritage and space held by Hong Kong-British diaspora.

"Chinese tea is symbolic of heritage and hospitality. In homage to Hong Kong-British diasporic experience, this ritual is adopted to offer a contemporary proposition to examine the role of tea in spaces of gathering from the community outside the homeland.

"Chá Table explores ideas of identity and belonging while alluding to critical social issues of autonomy.

"Inspired by traditional architectural structures and joinery, the Eastern-informed design fuses manufacture with Western timber – a reflection of the blended cultural position of Hong Kongers in Britain."

Student: Helen Wat

Shredd by Jack Mercer

"Shredd is an innovative and interactive music player that introduces a distinct approach to curating and experiencing music.

"Rather than simply selecting a track and playing it, Shredd requires users to physically write down the desired track and feed it into the shredder for playback.

"However, once a track has been played in this manner, it cannot be replayed.

"This conceptual music player challenges the conventional way we engage with digital playlists, where an abundance of music is readily available and accessible at any time."

Student: Jack Mercer

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Northumbria University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.