Showcase 2025 Student Spotlight: Joe Evans
Student Spotlight featuring BA (Hons) Product Design student Joe Evans and his project 'Innovation within the Construction Environment'.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 31 March 2025
Categories: Student Showcase; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
The project
Joe's project is focused on the use of smart materials to innovate within the construction industry, specifically around providing a solution to musculoskeletal injuries sustained by workers in construction. After researching common injuries sustained as a result of heavy lifting, the project focused on tool bags and the lack of ergonomic design surrounding them. The final outcome for Joe's project is an ergonomically designed tool bag which utilises a harness and belt configuration to allow the bag to be carried in a natural position and disperse the weight through the torso as opposed to the weight of a full tool bag being put onto the users shoulder when outstretched.
The project was inspired by the strain caused by heavy lifting as experienced by his father.
The inspiration behind the project
Joe's project work was inspired by his dad - a tradesman with almost 40 years of experience who carries a tool bag weighing upwards of 15 kilograms around site daily.
"Having worked with him since I was a child," Joe explains, "it was easy to see the heavy lifting and the strain that causes him day in and day out, with common musculoskeletal injuries in the form of tendonitis occurring as a result of the lifting. This inspired the basis of the project and led to the ergonomic tool bag design.
The project experience
Joe says: "I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this project which I feel comes from the close relation it has to directly benefitting my dad in his daily work life. Manufacturing a variety of models which led into working prototypes was very exciting to see the project develop and adapt to research and client feedback weekly. Furthermore to this, I enjoyed the research carried out into smart materials. It was fascinating to learn about their application and uses as this was a topic which has always interested me within design."
The project focused on tool bags and the lack of ergonomic design surrounding them.
Being part of NTU
Joe says: "I have really enjoyed my three years studying Product Design at NTU. I’ve met a lot of friends through my course and have learnt a variety of skills from 3D Printing, CAD and rendering software along with practical workshop skills ranging from industrial sewing machines to woodworking and metal working skills.
"My most memorable moment at NTU was my very first day. I walked into the studio nervous not knowing anyone but sat down next to a group and we all became really good friends for the next three years. Outside of Product Design my most memorable moment(s) was winning the Saturday hockey league 3 years in a row with NTU Men’s Hockey Club."
Joe Evans - BA (Hons) Product Design
Closing remarks
Joe's advice to those thinking of studying Product Design is to get involved with everything and talk to as many people as possible.
He explains: "Our classes are smaller compared to courses which gives you a great opportunity to get to know your entire year group. These are people you’ll be spending three years with so make an effort in group projects in first and second year."