Meet the scientists and engineers using design to improve our lives:
As the College’s new Dyson School of Design Engineering launches its first undergraduate course, find out how Imperial and its Exhibition Road neighbours are combining creative design, ground-breaking science and innovative engineering at this colourful, vibrant collection of new technologies and ideas to celebrate the London Design Festival.
The Fringe is free to attend and open to all, but registration is required in advance – please book your place via Eventbrite (external link).
With various zones showcasing how design and research are combining to improve our enjoyment of everything that makes life worth living, the Fringe includes opportunities to:
Freedom to explore
- Get behind the wheel of a zero emission racing car designed, developed, tested and raced by the Imperial Racing Green team, including students from the Departments of Aeronautics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering;
- See a live wind tunnel experiment and learn how this kit is helping Imperial students design future aircraft, with Dr Robert Hewson from the Department of Aeronautics.
- Experience what it’s really like to lose your hearing, before teaching yourself to recognise shapes and images with sound using new apps and technologies designed by Dr Lorenzo Picinali (Dyson School of Design Engineering) to support the visually and hearing impaired.
- Learn how students from the Department of Bioengineering are utilising design to aid one-legged skiers out on the slopes, and create amphibious prosthetic beachware that works as well on sand as in the sea.
- Explore the future of wheelchair mobility and meet the team of undergraduates from the Department of Bioengineering behind a new sporty re-righting chair design for competitors in wheelchair basketball or rugby.
A place to call home
- Assemble your own ultra-strong furniture from our favourite brown boxes and learn how paper recycling starts in the home, with Imperial alumnus and founder of Move-It David Graham
- Find out from Dr James Wilton-Ely how chemistry and design are being combined to protect us from poisonous fumesin the kitchen.
- Discover how Imperial graduate Iddo Wald is using heat conducting fabrics to keep your toes warm and your energy bills low.
- Explore the influence your subconscious emotions have on design with Dyson School of Design Engineering student Weston Baxter, and how that affects recycling and your daily toilet rituals.
Space to create
- Design and make your own origami butterflies, and contribute to a brand new art installation to be unveiled within the renovated Charing Cross Hospital, with Cancer Research UK.
- Discover how research is helping us take better care of classic design with the conservation scientists from the Victoria and Albert Museum and their collection of treasured toys, shoes and handbags in urgent need of repair
- Enter a competition to create your own London skyscraper or luxury mansion with Kidesign – a new way to introduce the next generation to design tools and 3D printing created by Dejan Mitrovic (alumnus of the MA/MSc in Innovation Design Engineering in collaboration with the Royal College of Art). The best entries will be 3D-printed and turned into models.
Health and wellbeing
- Find out how vibrating insoles and laser-guided shoes could help the elderly and sufferers of diabetes, MS and Parkinson’s to keep on walking, thanks to Imperial alumnus Lise Pape’s designs.
- Learn how design principles are being applied to the latest drugs and medical technologies with Professor Michael Sternberg and his Structural Bioinformatics Group
- Become a fire-breathing dragon with an app to help kids monitor their asthma, and explore how design principles can improve patient experience, with the HELIX Centre from the Institute of Global Health Innovation.
A pay bar is open throughout.
About the Imperial Fringe series
Imperial Fringe is a series of public events exploring the unexpected side of science. Based on Imperial’s ground-breaking research, Imperial Fringe is comprised of public evening events to engage with and build Imperial Festival audiences throughout the year via innovative public programming.
Prepare to think in new dimensions as you join us on a voyage of discovery and debate.
This event is part of the 2015 London Design Festival.
Due to venue licensing restrictions, under-18s will not be permitted after 19:00.