Design student earns high praise - 2004

21 July 2004

A built environment student who designed a soft marker pen to reduce the risk of children injuring themselves has been recognised for his innovative idea at this year's Queensland Design Awards.

Alf Fjelland received a commendation in the Emerging Student Designer category and was one of two QUT students to be recognised for outstanding work, the other being Angela Trusler, who received the Award of Merit for Embodiment, a project she completed as part of her Graduate Diploma in Interior Design.

Alf, who completed an engineering degree in Norway before moving to QUT to undertake a Bachelor in Built Environment Industrial Design), said the idea came to him when he observed a toddler running around with a hard pen in his mouth.

"I thought if he falls he is in trouble, my idea was to try to make it safe if a child ran around with a pen," Alf said.

"I have designed it to remove any potential hazard."

He said his design is for a marker made from flexible materials with an integrated cap, which eliminate the hazard of piercing or choking.

The flexibility allows the marker to bend around and interlock with itself removing the need for a separate cap.

When capped, the colourful markers can be chained together or worn around a child's wrist.

Alf is planning to have his design made into a prototype so he can gauge children's reaction to the markers.

Alf's commendation was not the first time the creative design student had been recognised for his work.

Earlier this year his concept for a chair made from Tasmanian Oak called "The Deer Stool" earned recognition in a competition sponsored by Australian Wood Review and Forestry Tasmania.

Alf is still working overtime on his designs and is currently experimenting with products using banana paper including a disposable hat for music festivals.

- Heath Kelly