Name: Georgia Barrett

 

Project Name: Cocoon

 

Project Info: Visiting homeless charities, volunteering at soup kitchens and immersing myself in the Brighton homeless community has all been part of the research for my third year project. This process has led me to design Cocoon.

Cocoon is a multi-functional, lightweight outdoor jacket with integrated sleeping bag for rough sleepers. Its built-in inflatable hood provides added comfort for the user when sleeping on hard surfaces and the hidden pockets for valuables give them peace of mind from muggings whilst asleep.

As a result of wearing Cocoon, the rough sleeper does not have to carry a separate sleeping bag and therefore draws less attention to themselves as homeless, allowing them to blend in with the people around.

Cocoon has a subtle design that helps rough sleepers on a day-to-day basis by keeping them warm, dry and secure. The improved quality of sleep they will get as a result of using Cocoon could potentially lift their mood and hopefully lead to long term improved emotional well-being.

 

Bio: Throughout my time at Sussex my passion for product design has grown in a way that I could never have anticipated. I feel very fortunate to have spent three years in one the most creative places in the UK and that my attitude towards design has been heavily influenced by this cosmopolitan way of life. Sussex has given me a well-rounded understanding of all facets of design, from the conception of an idea through the prototyping stages to eventually the finished product. Whilst I feel the skills and experiences acquired during my degree are essential for undertaking briefs set within the course, they are also transferable to professional situations, and I feel capable that I will be able to draw upon them with ease when entering the design industry.

The three years spent in Brighton have opened my eyes further to the growing issue of homelessness and I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to use design to improve their lives. This project in particular has given me drive to continue designing products that help people and in future I plan to incorporate these principles into my work.

 

 

 

Design by Will Brett

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