University News Last updated 13 September 2018
MA Design and Visualisation student Chao Zhou is celebrating after being recognised with the runners-up prize in the Heatrae Sadia Awards 2018.
Heatre Sadia are experts in manufacturing electric heating, hot water cylinders, storage water heaters and instant hot and cold drinking water products. The brief asked entrants to design or redesign a product to complement their existing product range, I chose to design an intelligent drinking water dispenser as an alternative to a kettle, filter jug or plastic water bottles for families to encourage and monitor the daily intake of water.
Chao’s prize winning entry is a standalone system specifically designed to meet the demand of portable drinking. By connecting with other Heatrae Sadia products via wifi it has built in intelligence to determine water levels and when to refill or replace the bottles. Chao also designed an app that interfaces with the product including: facial recognition, built-in camera, fingerprint reader – all calculating the total of users per day and the daily water consumed per person.
The design was inspired by monitoring Chao’s own water intake. He said afterwards: “I wanted a method of monitoring my daily intake based on the ambient temperature and humidity. This included how much extra water should I drink based on my body weight and exercise. I was also intrigued to read articles on the health benefits of drinking water during the research stage of the project.”
“I was elated when I found out I’d won the runners-up prize” Chao said. “I worked really hard on this project and developed it even further in my self-directed time after I found out I’d been shortlisted.”
“We were introduced to the competition brief in our Competition module – Heatrae Sadia came to the University and spoke to all the students on the requirements of the project. This was very useful as we practiced our client designer interviewing skills we’d learnt during the course.”
“All of the skills I learnt during the course were needed in this project. After the project presentation to senior management at Heatrae Sadia and also during the factory tour I came to realise how all the theoretical lectures and practical workshops skills we had been taught on the course were needed for a viable commercial outcome. “
“I am really glad I chose to study this course at Birmingham City University. It has given me a toolbox of skills that I will use for the rest of my career.”
Paul Rivett, Managing Director of Heatrae Sadia added: