January 2012
Halcrow engineer Matt Jones has led a collaborative design competition with the Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) School of Art and Design.
Through his role as chairman of the Institution of Civil Engineers Wales Cymru Elected Members Sub-Committee, Matthew has been engaged with students from the university’s textile Course.
The three month long degree module and competition tasked students to investigate Civil Engineering, the Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) materials.
ICE Wales Cymru director Keith Jones, with Matt Jones and committee member Kate Lane had met with the students over the three months and given a number of presentations on the ICE and Civil Engineering.
The competition with the thirty nine students required them to carry out research into the subject and produce a final exhibit – linking their presentation to the brief, creating an artistic or functional piece inspired by these themes.
The students had produced a very wide variety of interpretations in their final exhibits ranging from ‘pure art’ forms to various types of garments, imaginative designs and printed displays.
Matt Jones commented:
“The quality of work produced by the students has been exceptional. They've clearly well researched Civil Engineering and taken a fresh approach to Personal Protective Equipment design”.
ICE Wales Cymru chairman Ian Davies presented awards to the top six pieces. The winning three entries received cheques sponsored by Kate Lane's company SAPLANE Engineering.
ICE Wales Cymru director Keith Jones commented:
“I am delighted that The ICE was able to engage with these Art students. I was fascinated and marvelled at the variety of interpretation plus the professionalism shown by the exhibits. I hope we have a chance to display some of these, they so deserve wider exhibition.”