News
UEL design graduates get creative in Black and White at major design exhibition
28 September 2005
Just two months after graduating from the University of East London (UEL), three talented young designers have had their creations displayed at a major exhibition in Shoreditch.
Rakib Miah (23), David Walby (21), and Teck Soh (21) only finished their BSc (Hons) Product Design degrees in July, but have already gained recognition for their work and were invited to participate in Designersblock, the leading showcase for innovative, up-and-coming designers held during London’s recent Design Week.
Rakib, of Lochaber Road, Lewisham, said: “It’s been an amazing few weeks and we’re really excited about exhibiting our work at such a high profile event. Everything on display here has been designed and prototyped in the last two months, and the rush to get ready has left us buzzing with creativity and potential new products.”
At Designersblock, the enterprising graduates exhibited under the name of Black & White Product Design, a company they formed earlier this summer with support from Knowledge Dock, UEL’s business services arm.
Black & White products on display included stylish stools incorporating powerful wireless speakers, and unique lights which can be creatively personalised using different colours and images to suit the owners’ mood or style.
David, of Rochester Way, Eltham, said: “Knowledge Dock’s support has been a key factor in our early success. Through the HotHatch entrepreneurial scheme, we’ve been able to get our business off the ground, and their continuing advice, encouragement, and financial support has been invaluable.
“Our product design tutors at UEL were also a major inspiration. Being designers themselves, they were extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable, as well as so approachable and supportive that they ended up more like friends than teachers.”
Teck added: “We’ve been working every day from morning to midnight to get ready for this exhibition, so it feels great to finally get our ideas out on display. If all goes well, we’re hoping to take our products to the Milan Design Fair next April. Who knows, by then I might even be able to afford a place in London, so I won’t have to sleep on the floor at Rakib’s all the time!”
The exhibition was held in the Nicholls and Clarke building, 3-10 Shoreditch High Street, between Wednesday 21st and Sunday 25th September.
Thorsten Klein, HotHatch Manager at UEL’s Knowledge Dock, said; “We have started working with Black and White Design this summer and the boys are incredibly talented. Their designs not only look great but are also surprisingly functional and innovative. They understand their market and the products have great sales potential.”
For more details on Product Design, or any of the 300-plus programmes and combinations on offer at UEL, call 020 8223 3333 or visit www.uel.ac.uk.
© Knowledge Dock 2005
Rakib Miah (23), David Walby (21), and Teck Soh (21) only finished their BSc (Hons) Product Design degrees in July, but have already gained recognition for their work and were invited to participate in Designersblock, the leading showcase for innovative, up-and-coming designers held during London’s recent Design Week.
Rakib, of Lochaber Road, Lewisham, said: “It’s been an amazing few weeks and we’re really excited about exhibiting our work at such a high profile event. Everything on display here has been designed and prototyped in the last two months, and the rush to get ready has left us buzzing with creativity and potential new products.”
At Designersblock, the enterprising graduates exhibited under the name of Black & White Product Design, a company they formed earlier this summer with support from Knowledge Dock, UEL’s business services arm.
Black & White products on display included stylish stools incorporating powerful wireless speakers, and unique lights which can be creatively personalised using different colours and images to suit the owners’ mood or style.
David, of Rochester Way, Eltham, said: “Knowledge Dock’s support has been a key factor in our early success. Through the HotHatch entrepreneurial scheme, we’ve been able to get our business off the ground, and their continuing advice, encouragement, and financial support has been invaluable.
“Our product design tutors at UEL were also a major inspiration. Being designers themselves, they were extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable, as well as so approachable and supportive that they ended up more like friends than teachers.”
Teck added: “We’ve been working every day from morning to midnight to get ready for this exhibition, so it feels great to finally get our ideas out on display. If all goes well, we’re hoping to take our products to the Milan Design Fair next April. Who knows, by then I might even be able to afford a place in London, so I won’t have to sleep on the floor at Rakib’s all the time!”
The exhibition was held in the Nicholls and Clarke building, 3-10 Shoreditch High Street, between Wednesday 21st and Sunday 25th September.
Thorsten Klein, HotHatch Manager at UEL’s Knowledge Dock, said; “We have started working with Black and White Design this summer and the boys are incredibly talented. Their designs not only look great but are also surprisingly functional and innovative. They understand their market and the products have great sales potential.”
For more details on Product Design, or any of the 300-plus programmes and combinations on offer at UEL, call 020 8223 3333 or visit www.uel.ac.uk.
© Knowledge Dock 2005
