New Minds 2019: The Best Of (Part 1)

Article
By Ollie Nicholas
27/01/20

Subtitle

Supported by Underpinned: Building the future of freelancing together.

Contents

1. Fergus Vaux

2. Elissa Brunato

3. Manuela Pomposo

4. Megan Chandler

5. Russell Atkinson

Que Dios te bendiga by New Minds 2019 applicant, Manuela Pomposo

Thank you too everyone that took part in New Minds 2019. It was very difficult to choose our winners as we had so many great applications! Here are some of the best unsuccessful applicants from 2019.

Subtitle

Supported by Underpinned: Building the future of freelancing together.

Contents

1. Fergus Vaux

2. Elissa Brunato

3. Manuela Pomposo

4. Megan Chandler

5. Russell Atkinson

Thank you too everyone that took part in New Minds 2019. It was very difficult to choose our winners as we had so many great applications! Here are some of the best unsuccessful applicants from 2019.
1. Fergus Vaux

Fergus Vaux is a Product Design graduate from Nottingham Trent University (NTU), and the creator of ‘Insulata’ and ‘Turtle Backpack’, two products that have been developed in response to pressing environmental and health issues. As we visited NTU’s 2019 degree show in search of innovative final year projects, Fergus’ work instantly stood out for its ambition and practical application. His first project, Insulata which is a thermally-regulating cocoon for premature babies that born into low-resource areas really stood out to us. Insulata provides a low-cost alternative to sophisticated incubators used in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Insulata is a simple design using special, layered technical fabrics that allow the baby’s warmth to be conserved, whilst using no electricity.

Developing countries, refugee camps and disaster relief zones do not have the resources needed to establish effective NICUs which are used in developed countries for the management of low birth weight infants. The incidence of low-birth weight babies is much higher in the developing world.

Insulata can be manufactured at a cost of £15 per unit, giving a rough wholesale price of £30. This is considerably less than even the cheapest competitor on the market, which is around £400, and a fraction of the cost of the high-tech incubators used in modern, developed hospitals which can be anywhere up to £80,000. The packaging plays an important role in the successful implementation of the product. Lightweight, sterile and simple packaging means that the product arrives, at the remote field hospital, clean, and instantly usable by anyone. One of the USPs was to need no power input to function. This is a market first and enables very easy use, and implementation to even the remotest regions. Insulata could be sold to millions of charities and governments around the world, helping to save the lives of the millions of 'low/medium-risk' premature babies that are born every year.

As mentioned, Fergus also produced a second project; The Turtle Backpack which is an 'ocean-created' bag, made from 90% reclaimed ocean nylon. With over 640,000 tons of marine debris estimated to be in our seas, the Turtle brand has the potential to expand. As a commercially viable, fully recycled product, it can play a crucial role in stimulating marine clean-up.

Insulata by Fergus Vaux

The Turtle Backpack by Fergus Vaux

2. Elissa Brunato

A wave of innovation has picked up the fashion industry where biological elements are being engineered in the search for more sustainable materials. Central Saint Martins graduate, Elissa Brunato used her final year project as an opportunity to jump on this wave by creating; ‘Bio Iridescent Sequin’ harnesses bio technologies to create colourful shimmering sequins from naturally abundant cellulose, a material with the added benefit of being lightweight, strong and compostable. By redesigning a sequin from the base structure up, Designer, Elissa Brunato, has been able to rethink the production process by forming them in moulds to eliminate waste.

Working alongside Material Scientists Hjalmar Granberg and Tiffany Abitbol from the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Elissa created shimmering iridescent colours embedded within the material structure of cellulose. In this way, it is possible for the future Bio Iridescent Sequin to shimmer naturally without added chemicals. It is an entirely new way to approach finishes and colour within the fashion and textiles industry.

For over 9 years Elissa worked in the Fashion Industry, both for Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture fashion houses. Whilst not only working in their design studios she also travelled to production sites in India, China and Italy. Through this, Elissa gained a rounded insight into the operations of the Industry’s fragmented supply chains and through first-hand experience started to understand how global environmental implications link to design choices. Overtime Elissa became increasingly aware and frustrated by the limited material options and a lack of innovation particularly within the embroidery field.

Shimmering beads, sequins and crystals are mainly made from petroleum derived plastic and synthetic resins. All display different unsustainable properties either within their raw material or manufacturing process. Their use and disposal imposes a huge environmental problem and contributes largely to the micro-plastic issue that planet Earth is currently facing.

Bio Iridescent Sequin finds an answer in the research of bio-technologies that are capable of harnessing naturally abundant materials, to create shimmering colours structurally. By extracting the crystalline form of cellulose, the wood-originating matter can imitate the alluring visual aesthetics of beetle wings. The material remains lightweight and as strong as plastic, yet it is compostable. 

“Re-imagining the landscape of available materials that we have on this earth can allow for safer and more environmentally sustainable approaches to shimmering colour. These approaches have the potential to outshine the previous options in a way that is more forward thinking and innovative.” - Elissa Brunato

Bio Iridescent Sequin by Elissa Brunato

Bio Iridescent Sequin by Elissa Brunato

3. Manuela Pomposo

Kingston University gradate Manuela Pomposo presents; ‘Que Dios te bendiga’ an exploration into the peaceful beauty of Colombia, a country which is constantly challenged by its own violent history. ‘Que Dios te bendiga’ is an intimate narrative that contrasts Western media’s perception by showing the quiet moments and spaces in these vast cities and rural areas.

The series uses intimate landscapes paired with portraits to tell the story. Documenting both typical urban scenes with rural areas such as deserts and small rainforests has created a large narrative that documents subjects like religion and working life. Although these cities are hectic and extremely busy places to be, the photographs present a tranquillity, stillness, and harmony that contrast its physical experience, away from its current political issues, and in a way, somewhat disconnected from the human presence.

Manuela hopes to showcase a country which is constantly compared to its past and showcase it in a light which shows its true colours. Helping to create a new dialogue in the western hemisphere about the country that she was born in. Manuela has produced some beautiful images and we hope to see more work from her in exhibitions and books in the future!

Que Dios te bendiga by Manuela Pomposo

4. Megan Chandler

‘Off The Streets Campaign’ is concept produced by Brighton University graduate, Megan Chandler which enables the public to go online and pay for accommodation, in the form of a token, which can be donated to someone that is homeless. The public can then give this token to a homeless person which can be exchanged for a nights stay in a partnered hostel.
A big dilemma that the public face when wanting to give money to the homeless is not knowing whether that money will be spent on self-destructive things such as alcohol or drugs. This project aims to create a system that ensures the money given to homeless people ends up being spent on accommodation for the night to keep them safe, instead of fuelling an addiction.

There is a box that will be posted out which includes: the token, an information sleeve, a map and a monthly zine featuring the homeless people in their area which aims to give homeless people a voice to make them feel more engaged within society and not in the shadows. It can also encourage homeless people to share their hobbies or talents to give them purpose and confidence in the world again.

To accompany this there is also a short documentary exploring the lives of homeless people living in Brighton, giving them a platform to share their stories, aiming to reduce the typically negative public perception. The 'Off The Streets' documentary captures the stories of the homeless and sends a strong message to the public that anyone could end up homeless. This documentary humanises the homeless whilst also trying to overcome negative pubic perception and prejudice.

With financial backing, Megan could bring 'Off The Streets' to life and have a direct impact on helping the homeless in Brighton. At the moment 'Off The Streets' is at concept stage, however there has been interest from hostels who would be happy to be a part of this project. Megan hopes to be able to start this project in Brighton and then expand to other cities around the UK.

Off The Streets Campaign by Megan Chandler

5. Russell Atkinson

Russell Atkinson from Northumbria University submitted one of the more abstract projects, however the animators stop motion project was impactful, divulging into anxiety, queer subject matter and what it looks like on the inside when intrusive thought takes over.

Anxiety and intrusive thought is a saturated subject, but it's rarely talked about with men. Opening up the subject to discussing mental health candidly with animation really starts to open up a thread and a theme that can garner a shift in views and produce more honesty to talk about mental health more openly.

Moving forward, Russell has an ambition for his films to be partnered with mental health or long term illness companies and charities. He wishes to spread the message that it is normal to suffer from mental health conditions and it is totally acceptable to express your feelings. In recent years we have seen a greater awareness towards mental health and we owe it to people like Russell from keeping the conversation on the agenda.

New Minds 2019 supported by UnderPinned

A big thank you to Albert and everyone else at Underpinned for supporting New Minds 2019!

UnderPinned is the go-to platform for freelancers, offering end-to-end support. From alleviating the administrative burden through innovative technology and partnerships to improving education and networking through a highly curated community experience. UnderPinned is focussed on building the future of freelancing so freelancers can focus on building the career they want.

Follow the link in our Bibliography to find out more.

Underpinned: Building the future of freelancing together

  • New Minds 2019: The Best Of (Part 1)

Bibliography

UnderPinned (underpinned.co)
Fergus Vaux (www.instagram.com)
Elissa Brunato (www.elissabrunato.com)
Manuela Pomposo (www.manuelapomposoleiva.co.uk)
Off the Streets by Megan Chandler (www.off-the-streets.co.uk)
Russell Atkinson (russponse.myportfolio.com)

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