Ray’s design on the future

University of Teesside BA (Hons) Industrial Design student Ray Donnison is hoping to help disabled people enjoy days at the beach with a unique wheelchair attachment design.

The Beach Cruiser is designed to fit underneath a wheelchair, allowing the user to be pushed along the beach, thanks to the Cruiser’s larger wheels. The wheels don’t sink into the sand and the Cruiser itself can easily fit into the boot of a car. The Beach Cruiser designs, and a full size mock up, will be on display at the University of Teesside’s Design Degree Show 04 in June.

Ray, 21, from Middlesbrough, said: “There are specific beach-wheelchairs available, but they are very expensive. I thought there was a clear advantage in designing an additional unit, which would prevent the user from having to buy an additional chair. After lots of extensive research and testing, I designed the Beach Cruiser.

“It is still only a concept at the moment, but I think there is a lot of potential for it. It could easily be adapted to make it usable for grass and snow and I really hope that one of the industry guests at the Design shows takes an interest. It would be great to see my design developed into a real product.”

After graduating, Ray intends to study to become a design teacher.

Projects by final year degree students on the following BA (Hons) degree courses: Design Marketing, Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Interior Architecture and Design, will all be showcased at the University of Teesside’s annual Design Degree Show. The show is free to all and runs from Thursday 3 to Wednesday 9 June (not Saturday or Sunday), from 10am - 4pm, at the Main Hall of the Middlesbrough Tower, off Borough Road, Middlesbrough. The work exhibited at the show will also be on display at the New Designers Show at Islington Business Design Centre, London, from Thursday 8 - Sunday 11 July.

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