Who will win Design Innovation in Plastics 2012?

Each of the finalists had to deliver a strong case for their product whilst sticking to the brief of this year’s competition, 'Universal Design: Designing for the Rest of Us’.

The 2012 finalists are:

Danny Lynch, Nottingham Trent University - Clean-Cut, a tool to help those with visual or physical impairments to construct and cut sandwiches.

Gediminas Kuprys, University of Bradford - Floor Mouse, a foot-operated computer mouse with additional options for using the foot control with a keyboard, or with a mouse and keyboard.

Jamie Mansfield, Nottingham Trent University - Flexible Flat-Pack Clothing Hanger, a clothes hanger with flexible arms that collapse and spring back allowing the user to attach clothing via the neck without taking the hanger from rail or undoing buttons.

Michal Mojduszka, University for the Creative Arts Rochester - Plug Pull Adaptor, a simple strip attachment that makes using and removing plugs very much easier for everyone. Simplifies the job of locating the right plug and promotes independence of the visually-impaired as braille can be moulded into the strips.

Oliver Brunt, Northumbria University - Sense See Remember, an organisational memory aid based on a series of adhesive textured and coloured tabs to use as prompts in place of electronic devices.

Rowan Williams, Loughborough University - Pego, a kitchen aid free of the visual aesthetics of current disability products that provides grip and stability in food preparation.

Design Innovation in Plastics is owned by The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and The Worshipful Company of Horners, with the continued support of Bayer MaterialScience as the principal industry sponsor.

The award ceremony will take pace on Friday 29th June 2012 at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in London. Each finalist will receive a cash prize and work placement in the industry.

1. Established in 1985, Design Innovation in Plastics is now the longest- running student plastics design award in Europe. For more information on the competition, visit www.designinnovationplastics.org

2. The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) was created from the merger of The Institute of Materials (IOM) and The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (IMM) and now incorporates the Institute of Packaging. The IOM3 is the professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining to governments, industry, academia, the public and the professions. For more information visit www.iom3.org IOM3, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5DB. Tel: 020 7451 7300

3. The Worshipful Company of Horners is one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London and was formed to regulate the horn-working trade. In 1943 it adopted its modern equivalent, the plastics industry. For more information visit www.horners.org.uk

4. Competition sponsors include, Bayer MaterialScience, PlasticsEurope, Materials Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), DePuy International, PDD, Hi-Technology Group, Brightworks and Hellermann Tyton

About Bayer MaterialScience:

With 2011 sales of EUR 10.8 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2011, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 14,800 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. The company’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time Bayer creates value through innovation, growth and high earning power. The Group is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank.

Globally, in fiscal 2011, Bayer employed more than 112,000 people and had sales of €36.5 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to €1.7 billion, R&D expenses to €2.9 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com

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