Design news

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 close up of a neonatal incubator, showing two portholes and a control panel bearing the MoM incubator logo

Graduate inventor of incubator saving babies' lives in Ukraine wins The Princess Royal Silver Medal

Loughborough graduate James Roberts, the inventor of a new neonatal incubator designed, developed and manufactured in Britain that has helped babies thrive in NHS hospitals and across war-torn Ukraine, will be presented with The Princess Royal Silver Medal, one of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s most prestigious individual awards.

Katie Michaels holding her Ingenuity health champion award

Loughborough graduate entrepreneur wins national health champion award

Loughborough University graduate entrepreneur Katie Michaels has won the Ingenuity Programme’s National Health Champion award for her business, Moti Me.
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.
An illustration of an EV vehicle charing from a house.

Study to explore if electric vehicles can power homes and help meet the UK’s energy demands while plugged in

Loughborough University is part of a new collaborative project exploring if electric vehicles (EV) could be used to power drivers’ homes and help meet UK energy demands while on charge.

Prototype AR shopping devices could benefit both consumers and retailers – new study

Augmented reality (AR) could change the way we buy clothes in the future.

Exhibition that brings together football related research across Loughborough University launches during the World Cup

Jumpers for Goalposts; Improvisation, Experimentation and Play is an exhibition that brings together art, design, science and football related research from across Loughborough University. Showcasing work from Fine Art, the Sports Technology Institute, Architecture, Design, and Coaching.
Six images of the wheelchair designed by the Aston and Loughborough academics.

Loughborough University expert helps design unique, low-cost rugby wheelchair

The game of wheelchair rugby is being opened up to children in South Africa, thanks to researchers from Loughborough and Aston universities.
An image of Orbit, an interactive robot that aims to teach children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) about emotions and social appropriateness through storytelling, physical interaction, and visual communication. It is dome shaped, and has a smiley face appearance on a screen.

Meet Orbit, the interactive robot that looks to help children with autism spectrum disorders develop social skills

“Hey there. Allow me to introduce you to your new companion, Orbit, a robot you can play with and listen to. Not only can Orbit hear you, they can feel you too.”
Sri Hollema's Mat Zero design

Loughborough graduand designs humanitarian aid kit to help refugees

Product design student Sri Hollema has created Mat Zero, a rechargeable heated mat that can be used as a heating solution for refugees around the world.

Design concept of Flux sculpture, with illustrations of people dotted around

Students and recent alumna collaborate to produce a new sculpture for Loughborough University’s campus

A team of current and recent graduate students from a range of disciplines have been commissioned to produce a sculpture for the Loughborough campus, which will be located at the Claudia Parson’s Hall of residence.

a man swimming

Headset training system Jukes wins LUinc. Sports Tech pitching competition

A training system which enables coaches to communicate with athletes through a headset rather than shouting over distance has won the first Sports Tech pitching competition, hosted by LUinc, the University’s incubator.

New digital platform devised by 12-year-old will help schoolchildren organise their work

A 12-year-old schoolboy has co-created a digital tool that lets pupils catch up on their lessons and homework.
Lewis Naughton and George Clarke in front of converted railway carriage

Loughborough University Architectural Engineering student’s renovation project featured on Channel 4

Lewis Naughton, a student from the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, appeared on the Channel 4 show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, showcasing his railway carriage renovation project.
Images of 3D bones with implants on them

Bone-building cells favour different orthopaedic implant designs and this can be exploited to create devices that promote faster healing, new study finds

New orthopaedic implant devices that promote faster healing and ultimately reduce the strain on the NHS could be available in the future thanks to new research by Loughborough University engineering experts that reveals which structures best promote bone healing.

New Loughborough research will use Artificial Intelligence to help reduce maternal harm amongst mothers from black ethnic groups

Researchers from Loughborough University are to develop a machine learning system capable of identifying factors that contribute to harm during pregnancy and birth for mothers from black ethnic groups.