Article: Students put design on track

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From the Sydney Morning Herald click here!

Students put design on track

Students put design on track
Leesha McKenny
May 31, 2009

A BICYCLE that folds away to the size of a wheel and a device to detect approaching trains have achieved honours at the Australian International Design Awards.

Robert Dumaresq from Monash University, came up with the concept for his Switch commuter bike after the Victorian Government called for bicycles to be banned from public transport.

He took top honours in the Dyson Student Award, presented in Melbourne on Friday night.

Now in its eighth year, the student category aims to recognise and promote design excellence and innovation, with past winners going on to work for leading design houses here and abroad.

"The design innovation is Switch's ability to fold in one smooth motion, making it one of the fastest folding bikes available," Mr Dumaresq said.

NSW students rounded out second and third place ahead of 10 other finalists. Jason Lam from the University of NSW won a silver award for a water disinfection unit for third-world communities that uses ultraviolet and infra-red rays from the sun. UTS student Lachlan Meeks won a bronze for TrackSense, a portable device that detects vibrations more effectively to warn railway workers of approaching trains.

The overall major prize was awarded to Qantas, for the economy-class seat on its A380 aircraft. The seat was designed by Marc Newson, in partnership with Qantas Airways and Recaro Aircraft Seating.