Meet three University of Canterbury students who have set out to solve wine industry problems. These third-year students in Industrial Design each have a unique challenge, posed to them by Bragato Research Institute.
WILLIAM PAGE
Year and Study Major: 3rd and final year product design student, majoring in Industrial Design at the University of Canterbury
Title of Project: Functional Wine Label
Timeline: July 2020 – November 2020
“In this project, I aim to create, investigate and implement unique technologies so I can then design a functional wine label. This label will be looking to use technologies that will tackle the issue of counterfeit, as well as providing extra value to the end consumers.
Currently, I am completing firsthand research by organising interviews to understand how different demographics consume wine and the value that they perceive from current labels on the market. I am also looking into different counterfeit reduction measures and if there are technologies that exist that could help with this. I aim to create a system that could be used throughout New Zealand. The goal is to have this research completed in around two weeks so I can start creating some awesome ideas and life-like prototypes. I can’t wait to see what the final product will look like.”
Sophie (L) and Will (R)
SOPHIE WILLIAMSON
Year and Study Major: 3rd and final year product design student majoring in Industrial Design at the University of Canterbury
Title of Project: A Better Weta Guard
Timeline: July 2020 – November 2020
“I was really keen to work on this better weta guard project as I have quite a strong personal interest in environmental science and New Zealand agriculture. My goal is to come up with a new alternative to the current weta guard for use in the Awatere Valley wine growing region. Ultimately, I would like this project to improve on sustainability, durability and overall cost. The final product should improve user experience for both growers and labourers. It’s clear that there is a real need for something better, and I think there is lots of room for innovation here!
At the moment, I am familiarising myself with this weta species and the damage they cause. The next step will be to get into lots of materials and user research to develop something that works better for all involved. I already have a few concept directions that I’m looking forward to exploring further down the road!”
BETH VERSEY
Year and Study Major: 3rd and final year product design student majoring in Industrial Design at the University of Canterbury
Title of Project: Wire-Lifting 2.0
Timeline: July 2020 – November 2020
“In this project, I am to find and implement a new approach to wire-lifting by considering new ways to manage canopies or possible mechanical/automated tool designs. This new approach will aim to tackle labour costs and labour shortages for New Zealand the wine industry.
I am currently doing firsthand research to help grow my knowledge of different trellises and wire-lifting methods. I have visited vineyards around the Canterbury Region and have spoken to experts in viticulture about wire-lifting to see what different angles I can tackle the problem from. My end goal is to find a new approach that can be implemented by vineyards nationwide in a simple way. Once my research is complete, I hope to generate new ideas and concepts, and produce prototypes that can help aid my design process and communicate my designs effectively. I am excited to tackle this problem and find a solution.”
