The Degree Show will be the first time my work is physically being seen by people, so I’m feeling a strange mix of nerves and excitement. There is pressure to make sure my project represents all the knowledge and skills I have learnt and developed these past few years, but beyond that, it feels like a meaningful way to finish.  

It’s been a long process of research, pivots, and rethinking to get Acclivate to where it is now. Being able to put that in front of people and have real conversations about it feels like a proper conclusion to that journey rather than just handing in a final submission. This project has been the most complex thing I’ve ever tackled, so showcasing it feels less like showing off a finished product and more like proving to myself that I can take an idea from nothing and turn it into something real and functional. 

I hope that when people see my project, it will spark conversation about how serious heat-related illnesses can be for runners, and how much guesswork is involved in training for hot conditions. The design is only useful if people understand the gap it’s trying to fill, and if Acclivate makes someone walk away thinking differently about how athletes manage heat, then that feels like a success to me.