York students shine in lighting excellence awards

Two talented York St John University design students have been shortlisted as finalists at the national ‘Delight in Light’ industry awards, which encourage excellence in lighting design.

Stuart Featherstone and Ashleigh Cleet, BA Product Design students at York St John University, learned this week that their lighting products had been shortlisted from 74 submissions after 10,000 votes were cast.  

Ashleigh Cleet, who has already secured a full time role as creative and technical designer at a York playground equipment firm, designed the shortlisted ‘Night Guardians’ - a family of night lights which aim to banish children’s night-time fears and create a friendly sleeping environment to help the child gain independence from an early age. The friendly, ergonomic figures encourage children to handle the lights, and the simple design combines alternating colours and a speaker which plays a selection of lullabies.

Stuart Featherstone, whose passion for adventure has driven his design, submitted his ‘Outdoor Light’. His design is a lightweight, durable, compact and affordable lighting solution for outdoor use – a concept based on research gathered from a camping survey which found that the weight, durability, size and cost of products were all key considerations for lighting. 
Stuart said: “I am extremely pleased with being in the final of the delight in light competition with my outdoor light design. Being a finalist has allowed me to showcase my product at 100% Design, something that not many other students get to do.”

Warren Fearn, Head of Programme for BA Design at York St John University said:
“These are two well thought out lighting designs, which both have huge commercial potential. I think this is the tip of the iceberg for both students, who sit very comfortably in the top ten line-up in the Delight in Light awards. We wish them every success.”

The 10 finalists will exhibit at the ‘100% design’ exhibition between 18 and 21 September, where visitors to the show will vote to select the top four finalists who will go forward to the public final on 21 September. The Delight in Light award gives national recognition to exceptional young lighting designers, and is organised by the Light Industry Association.