This project explores the potential market opportunities and applications for a novel bamboo fiber-reinforced composite material with bio-HDPE matrix. The research, conducted in collaboration with Eve Reverse, focuses on developing a thermoplastic composite with aligned short bamboo fibers to enhance mechanical properties in specific directions, allowing for programmable strength. The goal is to research the desirability of the new carbon-negative bio-based short fiber composites and designing its appropriate application.
The project adopts the Material Driven Design (MDD) method, combining experiential characterization studies, mechanical testing, together with prototyping to assess the composite’s desirability, feasibility, and viability.
The testing of the bamboo fiber composite's mechanical properties, including its stiffness and strength, which showed comparable performance to traditional materials like plywood. Experiential characterization studies involved a series of observation-based experiments, questionnaires, and interviews to gather insights on potential consumers' perceptions and emotional responses to the material.
The results indicated that the bamboo fiber composite material offers a natural, warm aesthetic that elicited positive emotional feedback from users, including feelings of comfort and curiosity. These findings are crucial for establishing the desirability of this material in the marketplace, as they demonstrate consumer interest in products made from sustainable materials. Despite some concerns about the material's sustainability, it offers a compelling alternative for eco-conscious consumers.
The design vision can be concluded from mapping the findings of material characterization and market research. Following the vision, with the help of ideation groups, the idea of ceiling fan blade perfectly fit the vision and the requirement. Prototyping and functional testing further confirmed the feasibility of using bamboo composite materials The study validated vacuum bag thermoforming as an effective manufacturing method for producing smooth, uniformly thick bamboo composite blades capable of complex curves. The project also explored the feasibility of remanufacturing a multi-layer plate by pile up bamboo composite which demonstrated the potential for producing larger composite structures. Finally, from a viability perspective, the project aligns with the increasing demand for carbon-neutral products in the European Union, with legislation likely to support the development of sustainable materials. The result of quick LCA proved the sustainability impact is relatively low from cradle-to-gate calculation. The easy accessibility of raw materials, and relatively simple manufacturing process ensure it can be produced affordably while maintaining profitability. In the future, bamboo fiber composite has great potential to realize a low-cost automatic production line, with the combination of environmental sustainability and economic efficiency, providing bio-based thermoplastic materials in the market as a sustainable alternative.

This project addresses the gap in current stress-regulation treatments by developing a smart textile wearable that integrates shape-morphing materials and body monitoring sensors to regulate the nervous system through conscious breathing. Anxiety, recognized as the leading chronic stress-related disorder globally by the World Health Organization, often remains inadequately treated due to the lack of advanced mental health solutions which fail to integrate into daily life, resulting in underutilization and insufficient awareness. Consequently, existing solutions are either focused solely on body monitoring or haptic feedback, typically involving bulky and noisy electromechanical systems. This project aims to bridge this gap by combining both elements into a discreet, non-intrusive abdominal wearable, designed for everyday use to enhance individual awareness of anxious conditions and facilitate self-management.

By utilizing Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) for their advantageous power-to-weight ratio and ease of integration into textiles, this project explores their potential to simulate diaphragmatic breathing rhythms, aiding users in managing anxiety. Guided by the Material Driven Design (MDD) methodology, the project synthesizes theoretical and empirical research to develop a wearable prototype that accurately replicates breathing rhythms through SMA, monitors heart rate, and ensures user comfort and a soothing experience. Experimental studies with 0.5mm NiTiCu SMAs in zigzag configurations demonstrate the feasibility of reducing response time and controlling expansion movements at a high deformation strain, enhancing the simulation of breathing rhythms. A new SMA re-training method was identified, which conserves time, effort, and energy without necessitating high temperatures above 500ºC.

User studies indicate a strong preference for active engagement in haptic breathing guidance, which enhances focus and personal connection to the device. The wearable’s slow, organic expansion-contraction movements on the abdomen closely mimic natural diaphragmatic breathing, facilitating synchronization and promoting a sense of calm. The prototype’s dual association with medical and personal contexts, combined with its portability, supports versatile use across different settings and postures, thereby contributing to a positive user experience. The findings demonstrate the device’s efficacy in heightening user awareness and managing high stress, presenting a promising solution for health applications. This project provides significant insights into the integration of SMAs and smart textiles for mental health applications, presenting a noiseless, lightweight, discreet, and non-invasive solution.

Each year, 5.9 million tonnes of tea is consumed worldwide. However, this large consumption of tea also leads to large amounts of tea waste. Approximately 90% of steeped tea is being thrown away. This waste leads to problems such as environmental pollution. In order to combat this issue, Tea Clay was previously developed as a material made from wasted tea leaves. However, this material was not suitable for large scale implementation.

This project aims to explore the material-based opportunities for Tea Clay to be implemented on a larger scale.
The Tea Clay has an envisioned implementation as a memory board game based on tactile and olfactory senses for visually and non-visually impaired people. The Material Driven Design method is used for developing the material further to fit this vision. Benchmarking has inspired the material to have a reprocessing step: creating bulk material that can later be reprocessed into the intended product. Through tinkering, a new material with added gelatine and water was created which can reshape the material once it has been steamed. The reprocessability of the material could benefit the availability of the material for product implementation. Material can be created at one place and sold to customers, who in turn steam the material and reshape it in different products. The reprocessability also facilitates recyclability at the product end of life.

Bending tests and hardness tests have shown that it has a similar Young’s modulus and hardness as that of polypropylene and polyethylene, resulting in a material that is suitable for the substitution of conventional plastics. Experiential characterisation tests have proven that users are willing to interact with a novel material with appropriate background information. Knowing the material composition can stimulate them to be more accepting and embracing towards the material. Scent implementation is important for the intended product, as the scent should not disappear over time. A user test was conducted to test the scent duration and strength. Coating the material with essential oil has proven to keep the scent over a period of 4 weeks without much disappearance. The results of the material exploration both technically and experientially have come together in the design of a board game for visually and non-visually impaired people. This design aims at enhancing social interaction between visually and non-visually impaired through a game where everyone has a sense of collaboration and autonomy during game play and setup.

Overall, this study has demonstrated the potential of Tea Clay to be used as a waste composite material for product development. Future studies are still needed to further analyse the material properties of Tea Clay, and to validate its application in design for visually impaired people.