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Students enjoy success in international design competition
Students enjoy success in international design competition
A pod designed to offer sanctuary from the stresses of the outside world has earned Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Design (Interiors) students Kat Jackson and Victoria Hoskin an Honourable Mention in the international Innovative Minds 2016 Design Competition.
Hosted by gURROO, this annual competition focuses on the blending of physical and virtual architecture, and ways in which innovative minds can address societal issues. Entries were received from all around the world, including Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Americas.
Kat and Victoria’s entry, Haven, is an individual wellness pod providing refuge from busy, demanding lives. It offers stress relief in two ways – either as a relaxation space playing personalised imagery and music, or through a session with a therapist via virtual link to guide the user through relaxation and stress-management techniques.
“The pod’s seating sensors can measure biological responses to stress, such as heart rate, to help tailor the pod experience to the individual,” explains Kat Jackson.
“Haven affords the anonymity and privacy that is not guaranteed in a public therapists’ office, and its small footprint means it can be positioned in airports, malls, parks or large workplaces,” says Victoria Hoskin.
Kat says she “couldn’t quite believe it” when she received notification of the award. “It’s a large international competition, so I really wasn’t expecting such a great result,” she says.
Haven was devised by Kat and Victoria as part of a 14-week, second-year Bachelor of Design (Interiors) project at Otago Polytechnic’s School of Design. Both women wish to acknowledge the mentorship and encouragement of their Academic Leader: Interiors, Tobias Danielmeier, throughout the project.
Tobias, who is currently overseas, says he’s “thrilled for Kat and Victoria – it’s a fantastic achievement. This international recognition of their inspired design is really well-deserved.”
ENDS
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