Will Brett-Atkin with his interactive toy Monster Nakama at the Product Design Degree Show 2013

James Morgan's model of a recycling bin for small living spaces at the Product Design Degree Show 2013

Black belt Irena Petrovic with her Olympic redesign for karate hand pads at the Product Design Degree Show 2013

Scott Mighall with his multi-purpose toy design at the Product Design Degree Show 2013

Product Design finalists will display their ingenious creations at their degree show this week (Wednesday 22 May–Saturday 25 May).

Exhibits will include an interactive toy for sharing; a recycling solution for people living in flats; a designer-look diabetic kit; a re-design of a budget airline seat; a pop-up shop system; sensory therapy for people with dementia; and a multi-configured children’s toy that can convert into a piece of furniture as the child grows older.

Some of the students were supported by organisations and businesses including Moshi Monster makers Mind Candy, homeless charity Emmaus and recycling co-operative Magpie.

Course leader Diane Simpson-Little says: “Our Product Design graduates have demonstrated outstanding competence in research, critical analysis, design engineering, brand development and human-centred design. Their products draw on explorations into culture, psychology, ergonomics, art, science and commerce.

“Our 2013 Product Design degree show provides you with an unrivalled opportunity to see not only the talent of our students but also the work of tomorrow’s leading designers.”

The show takes place in the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) Creativity Zone in Pevensey III, Room C7:

• Wednesday 22 May 10am-5pm
• Thursday 23 May 10am-5pm
• Friday 24 May 10am-4.30pm
• Saturday 25 May 10am-4pm.

The keynote speaker at the private view for invited guests on Friday (24 May) is Peter Stevens, the UK’s best-known designer of race cars, who has designed, among others, for McLaren, Lamborghini, BMW and Lotus.

William Brett-Atkin’s interactive toy Monster Nakama (Japanese for ‘friend’) splits in half and interacts with an iPad app using Bluetooth technology so that children can play and learn together on- and offline. The iPad game uses Augmented Reality to bring the toys to life.

Will says: “This toy has been designed to encourage children to socialise in a virtual environment and to physically come together to unlock levels and see whose toy is happiest.

“Monster Nakama is also an attempt to challenge the fact that video games can make children anti-social.”

Will was supported in his development of the toy by leading online gaming company Mind Candy, makers of Moshi Monsters, and in July will take up a six-month placement with Mind Candy.

James Morgan’s recycling bin for small living spaces such as flats aims to ease the process of getting recyclable material from the home to the recycling point.

The space-saving, vertically mounted bin expands as more material is fed into it. The principal component of the bin is a reusable, long-lasting, water-resistant polypropylene bag that is easily released, transported, rinsed and re-attached. The bag can be customised with attractive designs.

James worked with Brighton-based recycling co-operative Magpie to develop his ideas.

Karate black belt Irena Petrovic has re-designed the hand pads used by karate exponents, in preparation for the martial art becoming an Olympic sport in 2020.

Karate gloves are used in training to improve performance and to prevent possible injuries.

Irena, who has represented Serbia in karate, gave the karate pad a new ergonomically fitted design using innovative materials such as carbon fibre and composite gel.

She also added a customized element to the design by using 3D laser scanner technology.

Irena says: “My design improves performance at a higher level, as the thickness of the glove helps to make movements feel as they would in a real fight.

“It’s great to combine my two passions of design and sport and I am looking to focus on sports design in the future.”

Scott Mighall’s product is a creative toy called Cachoo that encourages imaginative play and defies the notion of a limited lifespan for childhood toys.

It comprises three very simple shapes made of birch ply and vinyl layers that, when assembled, work together in a variety of forms to make a car, a train, a horse, a boat or anything that a young child imagines.

Cachoo also incorporates a chalkboard, and a whiteboard as the child grows older. Stripped down to its final layer, Cachoo becomes a simple storage box or footstool that can become part of an adult home or can even be passed on to the next generation.

Scott says: “Fast-changing technology means there is great demand among the young for the most new and relevant products. I wanted to create something that wouldn’t outdate itself, and something that would tell a story about the owner and their life, and these are memories that I wanted to capture.”

• Full details of all the exhibits can be found on the Design 2013 web site.