Jul 2 2008
Graduating Product Design student Toby Fox has designed the perfect washing up system - dramatically reducing water waste without compromising cleaning efficiency.
Toby, who graduates from De Montfort University this month with a BA (Hons) Product Design, has developed a unit which can wash 40 items using less than two litres of water.
Toby, 21, from Leicester, explains: "Research shows that people leave taps running while washing and rinsing items; wasting water which is often too valuable to waste particularly in places like Queensland Australia, which is experiencing severe water shortages.
"My design means that by squeezing a hand-held washing device, water can be pumped from a tank that sits at the side of the sink. The small volume of the pump only allows small amounts of water to be used. A small volume of soap is dispensed at the push of a button which makes sure crockery doesn't get too soapy and require even more water to rinse clean. Pushing a second button gives bursts of steam, which is used as the rinse method, and uses less water than running a tap."
Toby's work will be on display at the New Designers exhibition in London next week (10-13 July).
New Designers is the leading event for the freshest talent in the design world and has been hailed by the Prime Minister as one of the most important exhibitions in London. See http://www.newdesigners.com.
Another of Toby's other projects include the 'Mantis' light designed to provide an eco-friendly light source. Rechargeable lighting pebble uses energy efficient LEDs and is made from the wet suit material, Neoprene, which moulds around and holds the pebbles in place. The recharging stand features frosted and clear sides to allow lighting effects to be produced.
Toby hopes to continue designing products which can have a dramatic impact on the environment.
"I want to design products to help us, not only today, but products which through their use will help to ensure future generations can enjoy life - and a clean environment," said Toby.
The BA (Hons) Product Design is an award-winning programme designed to give students the opportunity to become a creative designer of a vast range of mass produced products.
Graduates have gone on to be employed by a wide range of well-known companies including Dyson, Audi, Hotpoint, Swatch and Adidas.