From idea to impact

Madeleine Brissenden, Arts University Bournemouth

Imagine a world where shade and comfort aren’t luxuries in a city, but civic essentials. This is Madeleine’s vison – brought to life through a system of modular pavilions, portable cooling blankets and an innovative app.

Dakotah Myers, Savannah College of Art and Design

Dakotah’s branded system – Canopy – reduces the impact of urban heat by promoting cooler, greener routes for walking in Atlanta. Canopy partners with Apple Maps to provide a smooth transition to shaded, tree-lined and safer paths through the city.

Casta Schaebbicke, Northumbria University

This project involves a sustainable insulation solution using materials derived from waste streams, such as cooking oil, paraffin and beeswax. Casta’s design naturally regulates indoor temperatures by absorbing and releasing heat, reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling.

Ke (Felix) Chen, Royal College of Art

Felix has designed an affordable and sustainable coffee wastewater filtration system designed for small coffee farms. Co-developed with coffee-producing communities in Columbia, BioBrew is a modular, solar-powered system built from locally available materials.

Xinyi Liu, Royal College of Art

This project transforms footwear into an accessible gateway for fashion design, celebrating local handicraft and cultural expression. Xinyi’s modular shoe kit includes components that makers can customise with traditional textiles, embroidery or weaving.

Mathilda Blunt, Oxford Brookes University

This project involves the creation of a mixed-use development out of an old grain store in a market town in Suffolk. Mathilda is reimagining rural futures for ‘Generation Rent’, creating a space that features a library, café, garden, gym and co-working areas with comfortable seating.

Amelie O’Sullivan, Arts University Bournemouth

Amelie’s goal is to merge work and play, creating connections and opportunities to help entrepreneurs thrive. Work Hard Play Hard would transform Bournemouth’s decaying East Side Cliff hotels into a modular, community-led co-working hub.

Lucy Yates, University of Hertfordshire

This scheme would provide parking companies with the resources to run casual pop-up events in their unused spaces. Lucy’s vision is for RISE to involve food markets, fitness sessions, open-air cinemas and local concerts.

Li-Yu Chang, Northumbria University

Could railway stations become sustainable fashion hubs? Li-Yu’s Eco Fashion Express would see second-hand clothing pop-ups at local train stations, helping merchants to promote their brands, boosting the economy and engaging the community.

Sofiia Meshcheriakova, Laura Balestrieri, Ella Kluska, Edinburgh College

Sofiia, Laura and Ella want to transform railway stations into community-focused, sustainable hubs with local markets and green spaces. Re:Station will create opportunities for local producers and artisans to showcase their work, fostering a sense of belonging among residents and attracting visitors.