Products & Inventions
In 2002, after leaving the Masters Fashion course at St Martins, I realized that despite having spent five years focused on designing clothes, questioning what clothing could be and how it could be constructed, I could in fact apply the same creative thinking to … anything.
Over the next several years I invented various products, some of which achieved patents, licence deals and design awards. This all helped to establish and bolster my reputation as a designer and led to invitations to design pieces for different brands and markets. It was an exciting period and during those years I anticipated building a career in the design world.
The works shown here represent some of the ideas that made it to market, as well as a few that were still in development, up to the point at which they abruptly stopped due to the global financial crisis which hit in late 2008. At that point I decided to re-focus solely on my artworks and especially my tulle work, which ultimately opened up an entirely new field for creative growth as an artist.
Cordz
Cordz is a creative play activity enabling pictures to be created from coloured lengths of cord.
This concept developed from the idea of ‘painting with fabric’ first explored in the woven works and eyelet portraits. Here, coloured cord replaced fabric and the low-profile hook surface replaced the eyelets so as similar visual effects could be achieved with ease.
Using the range of pre-cut lengths of coloured cord, drawings and designs can be created by applying the cord onto the board surface by hand or via the stylus. Cords can be easily adjusted and removed entirely, to allow for the reuse of the boards and the ability to make different pictures.
Cordz was patented in 2006 before being Licensed to Flair UK and Mega Brands America, USA. The product was awarded Top Creative Toy 2007 and The Red Dot Design Award 2009.
Rekindle
Rekindle is a candlestick holder, which collects the melting wax to form a new candle. As the candle burns, melting wax drips down from the candle and accumulates inside the transparent stem where a length of wick is centrally located. Once full, the new moulded candle can be removed from the central section to start the process again.
In 2014, someone took the pictures from this site and posted them on Tumblr. The piece went viral causing an ongoing influx of enquiries (that continues to this day!) However, the piece was only ever developed up to the point of this prototype, which although it performed well, did not achieve 100% consistency, and therefore has never been released.
Shown in stainless steel
12cm x 23cm
Pyramid
Designed in response to the problems of discomfort when sitting on acrylic chairs and the surface scratches that often result from usage, Pyramid focuses on the humble cushion as the key visual form. A hollow, transparent acrylic plinth displays the cushion, which provides the overriding colour, texture and pattern of the chair at large. Designed with removable cushion covers, Pyramid provides an adaptable range of sculptural seating, that’s also comfortable to sit on.
Range includes, low stool, barstool and dining chairs.
Guest design for Inzpire Acrylic
10mm acrylic and separate cushion
2007
40 Winks
Constructed from 25mm acrylic, 40 Winks is a playful chair design created for the furniture brand Inzpire Acrylic. Inspired by the functional role of a chair, this piece presents a simple sculptural figure, sitting slumped back and relaxed.
Designed for Inzpire Acrylic
Box Lounger
The BT Artbox Exhibition
London, 2012
Box Lounger was designed for the BT Artbox exhibition, which saw over 80 British phone boxes transformed by artists and designers for public exhibition across London. Box Lounger was auctioned at the National Portrait Gallery by Sotheby’s to raise funds for Childline.
Box Lounger brings the iconic phone box indoors, transformed into a functional piece of furniture. Designed with button-back red leather upholstery and light-up telephone signs, Box Lounger packs a patriotic punch in its fusion of British heritage design.
A specially commissioned purple Box Lounger was created and appeared in various London locations throughout the Olympics courtesy of British Telecom.
In 2014, Box Lounger featured on the Big Brother TV show, UK.
Button-back leather with light-up signs.
Fabrication in collaboration with 3Deye.
Analog
Following the reports of old analogue television sets being thrown out to make way for the digital change over, the Analog Side Table aims to salvage and convert the classic 1960s TV into a fresh, functioning piece that shines a spotlight on its origins – a nostalgic design relic that would otherwise so easily be lost and forgotten.
Original 1960s television
Stainless steel and mirror
65cm x 40cm x 35cm
Brolly
sub head text
Text Pending
Details info pending
Rucjak
Designed for the Well-Fashioned: Eco Style in the UK exhibition by the Crafts Council, 2006, RUCJAK takes the form of a jacket that transforms into a fully functional rucksack via a series of concealed zips.
“Rohan is proud to be associated with the RUCJAK design by Benjamin Shine. The RUCJAK is an innovative and highly original piece. For the traveler it answers the question of how to take less stuff with you that does more. We think this concept piece might also point to a way of addressing the environmental load of what we do. Choosing products that have this kind of multifunctional approach and are made to high standards of quality and durability make a small step towards reducing the amount of apparent necessities that we consume and discard.”
Tim Jasper, Rohan Design Director
Convertible jacket and bag
Weatherproof treated cotton
Skoody
Designed to combat unpredictable weather, the Skoody is a lightweight fleece scarf that can be quickly opened into a warm hooded top – and reversed into a rain jacket should it rain. It comes in a matching drawstring bag and is available in various colours and sizes.
The Skoody was patented in 2003 before receiving its first order from Arsenal Football Club. The product was sold under its own brand for several years via the Skoody website before being licensed to ADM Promotions, where it was sold as a branded product.
Reversible scarf, hooded-top and rainmac
Microfleece and nylon
Switch Bag
This bag was designed with the idea of providing a more versatile alternative to the conventional non-woven supermarket grocery bag. Switch Bag provides a streamline shoulder bag for everyday use, that can be converted, via a single zip into a large grocery bag with two inner pockets.
Various fabric options
Licensed to ADM Promotions
Eurostar Train Manager’s Bag
Enlisted by Worn Again to design the new Train Managers Bag for Eurostar, from their waste textiles, the project was as much about considering new manufacturing methods as it was about fulfilling the specific criteria for the bag’s functions.
The upcycling process required the collection of Eurostar’s waste textiles, from which the bag was then designed. Factors such as the quantity of available materials, strength and practicality of those materials and the limited size and shapes of the deconstructed panels, informed each stage of the design process.
Made from decommissioned uniforms and train seating, the bag provides quick and easy access to equipment with priority items stored in the main section and the HV vest stored separately in the base section. The product was launched at the Sustainable Futures Exhibition at the Design Museum in London.
Made from corporate waste textiles: old uniforms and train seating
