Design news

A colourful graphic artwork alongside the title 'School of Design and Creative Arts Degree Show 2025'.

Celebrate creativity at the Design and Creative Arts Degree Show

Students from the School of Design and Creative Arts (SDCA) will showcase their final projects in a physical exhibition on campus from 14-18 June.
A sketch of her Gargi's jewellery design and a photo of her wearing the jewellery.

Deaf Loughborough student wins international competition to design hearing technology jewellery

Gargi Agrawalla, a final-year Product Design and Technology student at Loughborough University, has won an international competition to design jewellery for use with cochlear implants and hearing aids and raise vital funds for a UK-based charity supporting deaf children.
Kitt Medical founders presenting on Dragons' Den

Design graduate secures Dragons’ investment in life-saving kit

Industrial Design and Technology graduate, Zak Marks, secured a £75,000 investment from Dragons’ Den entrepreneurs, for a stake in his emergency anaphylaxis kit business.

A white hospital bed with a stand with drips on a teal background

AI model predicts hospital stay lengths for people with learning disabilities

A new artificial intelligence (AI) model has been developed to predict how long a person with a learning disability is likely to stay in hospital, offering valuable insights that could improve care and resource planning.
The driving simulator at Loughborough University, which comprises a white KA car surrounded by screens. Pictured on the screens is a road setting. There is a man sat to the right of the simulator operating a computer.

Drivers with obstructive sleep apnoea needed for study exploring ‘caffeine-naps’

Loughborough University is seeking local people with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) for a new study to assess whether ‘caffeine-naps’ – a caffeinated drink followed by a 15-minute nap – can reduce driver fatigue.
A white HGV driving on the motorway, it has a blur effect on it, making it look like it is moving fast.

Amendment to HGV safety standard will improve safety for vulnerable road users

Pioneering research from Loughborough University and funding from The Road Safety Trust have strengthened the legislation around the minimum direct vision requirements for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
Ergonomics and Human Factors experts discussing different table tennis bats

Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious award inspires future generations to design inclusive products

Loughborough University has received a Royal Academy of Engineering award for an innovative outreach project to inspire the next generation of engineers to make products and systems that are effective, safe and enjoyable to use.

A man at an underground train platform with the Aerate product around his neck

Student designs wearable purifier to protect underground train users and improve air quality

Commuters on underground trains worldwide may soon breathe easier, thanks to an invention by a Loughborough University student.
Two big painted canvases on a wall and four sculptures on stands at the 2024 Degree Show exhibition.

Behind the scenes: School of Design and Creative Arts students on their journey to the Degree Show

Every year the final-year students in the School of Design and Creative Arts (SDCA) put together a final collection to be shown in the Degree Show.
The Think Human logo

Think Human exhibition invites broad audiences to discover a world designed for people

Loughborough University is launching an interactive exhibition that showcases the diverse ways that Ergonomics and Human Factors make our lives better, safer and more inclusive.
Pale blue background with colourful text reading 'Architecture End of Year Show' and '19 June 2024' underneath.

Architecture students take centre stage at End of Year Show

Loughborough University Architecture (LU-Arc) is proud to present its annual End of Year Show on 19 June.
Illustration showing a house, meter reader for energy, a light bulb, a piggy bank, an energy bill and a calculator.

UK energy bills: More than 2,000 people to take part in £1.3m project trials aimed at saving cash and carbon

Five new product trials focused on saving the nation cash and carbon are set to run across the UK with the help of designers from Loughborough University.
Smart robotics, dissembling and remanufacturing medical devices

Loughborough University hosts upcoming Manufacturing and Trade Conference

Loughborough University is hosting the East Midlands Chamber’s Manufacturing and Trade Conference on Tuesday 26 March.
The Aftrak Team

University research and innovation feature among finalists of Leicestershire Innovation Awards 2024

Loughborough University has seven finalists across seven categories in the Leicestershire Innovation Awards 2024.
A 3D printer with a lower limb prosthetic socket inside of it

Breakthrough in 3D printing could enable access to personalised prosthetic devices anywhere in the world

Lower limb prosthetic sockets could soon be printed in remote locations and even in users' homes, thanks to a groundbreaking process developed by manufacturing experts at Loughborough University.

Image of a UK motorway with cars and lorries on it, there is a slight blur on the image.

Project aims to help identify motorists with dementia who are unfit to drive

A new Loughborough University-led project aims to develop an effective screening test to identify individuals in the early stages of dementia who are unfit to drive.
CONTACT being held up to a rugby player's face

Student designs handheld device that aims to detect sports-related concussions in 10 seconds and prevent long-term health problems

A handheld device designed to detect sports-related concussions in under 10 seconds has been prototyped by an innovative Loughborough University student in a bid to protect players of all levels from long-term health problems.

Ridzuan A-Rasid, who is pitching to win the National Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition

Loughborough Doctoral Researcher pitches for votes in national Three Minute Thesis Finals

On Friday 15 September, Ridzuan A-Rasid, a doctoral researcher from Loughborough University, makes history as the first finalist from an art and design background to pitch to win the National Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition.
Sunny design product on a table, the product is shaped like an astronaut with a rocket ship

Student designs sun cream monitor that takes the guesswork out of protecting kids' skin

Parents and guardians may soon bid farewell to the nagging worry of missed spots when applying sun cream to their children's skin, thanks to an invention by a Loughborough University student.

Loughborough research on driver vision leads to Europe-wide safety changes to HGV design

Research by Loughborough University has led to the creation of a new European standard for HGV design which will help prevent hundreds of people from being killed or seriously injured each year.

Loughborough senior lecturer receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Sharon Cook, a senior lecturer in the School of Design and Creative Arts, has been awarded this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors.
Woman driving a car with a cup of coffee in her hand

New research project aims to assess the effectiveness of ‘caffeine-naps’ for drivers with obstructive sleep apnoea

A new Loughborough University-led project will assess whether a ‘caffeine-nap’ can counteract sleepiness among drivers who suffer with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
A collage of various small medical devices

Creating a safe circular economy for small medical devices

A collaboration between Loughborough University and the University of Leeds – is developing a circular economy (CE) approach to reducing the staggering amount of small medical device (SMD) waste generated each year.
An old person holding hands with a robot arm

New project to create friendly robotic service to support elderly people

A friendly robotic service for preventative care amongst older adults at risk of frailty is to be developed as part of a new collaborative project involving Loughborough University.

Close up of RAAC concrete

Expert explainer: What is Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and why are people concerned about it?

In the wake of recent news items warning of school buildings in England being at risk of collapse, Professor Chris Goodier, an expert in Construction Engineering and Materials, explains what ‘RAAC’ is, why it is considered a safety risk, and what is being done nationally to address the issue.