Jess Kuhlenthal, a B-Tech Industrial Design student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology was crowned the overall winner of the 2014/2015 competition under the theme, Limited Space. She received a set of designing tools worth R10 000 as a prize for her Trimod Table design.
Talking about her winning design, Jess says: “I tried to solve the problem of users having limited spaces and utilizing space through the shape and form of the table. The magnetic strips that are located along the top edge of the table allow the three right-angled triangles to be disconnected and re-connected in over 8 different configurations based on the available space and the users’ preference. It also allows the user to interact with the table and personalize the product. This makes it functional as a smaller piece of the configuration and could be placed next to you while you enjoy a cup of tea or coffee instead of pulling the entire table closer”.
The DTI, in partnership with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), Design Institute, Industrial Development Co-operation (IDC) and Furntech started the Furniture Design Competition to promote the image of the Furniture Manufacturing Industry in South Africa, and to enhance its competitiveness locally and abroad through new product development and product differentiation.
Jess strongly feels that all design pieces should address the following questions:
What are the essentials of the product?
What problems do people face with similar existing products such as having limited space or storage?
How I can bridge the gap between the product and the user?
Congratulations Jess!
This is a really http://www.iqmatics.com/webstore/ piece that she
designed and shows how holding such competitions can help in digging out the
inner hidden talent that many young individuals possess but never get the
opportunity for them to show it to the world.