Five students and recent graduates of University of the Arts London (UAL) have been announced as the winners of a competition to reimagine heat pumps.
Winning submissions approached the challenge from a range of viewpoints and creative disciplines, including how to leverage mass media and advertising, redesign the heat pump outdoor unit, incorporate heat pumps into lifestyle choices such as gardening, and a card game exploring the role of heat pumps in reducing carbon emissions.
The “Hot Stuff” competition, run by the innovation charity Nesta and UAL’s Climate Emergency Network (CEN), sought to inspire creative thinking about decarbonised home heating.
The competition invited UAL students and recent graduates to use their chosen creative disciplines to create pieces of artwork that reimagine and design heat pumps. Entries were judged on their creative merit, relevance to the brief and originality by a panel of Nesta, UAL and independent judges.
The winning submissions came from Victor Hwang, Tenley Tomlinson, Tireni Adeniji, and the team of Ozge Sahin and Nanthini Sampathkumar – all students or recent graduates from UAL schools. They will each receive £500 for their innovative heat pump concepts.
Katy King, deputy director of sustainable future at Nesta, says:
“With heat pumps set to become a commonplace part of our lives, there is a real need to think creatively about this technology. As more and more people get set up with green home heating, heat pump businesses will be in need of a variety of approaches to engage customers, including new branding, messaging and designs.
“The judging panel was impressed with the creativity and ingenuity on display in the entries to this competition. In addition to sparking new creative approaches in the heat pump market, we hope that these innovative designs will help people to see heat pumps in a new light and to understand the role that they can play in decarbonising the UK.”
Kate Keara Pelen, Creative Director of the UAL Climate Emergency Network, adds:
“The climate and ecological crisis demands bold and imaginative solutions. We are so proud of our students and graduates for rising to this challenge. Their proposals are a testament to the power of creativity to help shift behaviours, mindsets and narratives. We hope that their creative responses will inspire both the public to see how heat pumps might fit into their lives and the heat pump industry to consider new approaches to design and communications.”
The winning submissions will be showcased at an event at Nesta’s offices on 24 October 2024 and shared online.
Victor Hwang, MA / MEng (Dual Award) Global Collaborative Design Practice Graduate, Camberwell College of Arts: “Talking to homeowners about heat pumps, everyone had heard of them and knew they were meant to be better for the environment, but no-one knew exactly how good they were. One person said they thought they were too big for their small garden. This inspired me to look into the size of heat pumps compared to other methods of reducing carbon emissions. I found the average Co2 saved per year, 1,900kg, is roughly equivalent to the carbon absorbed by half a football pitch worth of forest. My design aims to bring this comparison to life.”
Tenley Tomlinson, BA Illustration and Visual Media Student, London College of Communication: “My take … is to turn the heat pump into a multi functional object that promotes sustainability within its purposes and use of materials. I created a ‘heat pump garden shed’ where people can utilise the space of the heat pump to store and display their gardening tools. I added shelves and hooks onto the sides of the heat pump for easy storage and decoration. The heat pump garden shed is designed for people to not only be energy conscious, but also take up sustainable hobbies like gardening.”
Tireni Adeniji, BA Architecture Student, Central Saint Martins: “My approach … leverages the unique flower-inspired design of Petal Pump to transform the image of heat pumps. This design makes the technology visually appealing and relatable, addressing the lack of public awareness and interest. By highlighting Petal Pump’s eco-friendly benefits, such as reducing carbon emissions and contributing to net zero goals, the descriptions create a compelling narrative for change. The flower motif symbolises natural beauty and growth, aligning with the vision of a greener future. This engaging and innovative approach aims to increase consumer confidence and inspire more households to adopt sustainable heating solutions.”
Ozge Sahin and Nanthini Sampathkumar, MA / MEng (Dual Award) Global Collaborative Design Practice Graduates, Camberwell College of Arts: “Carboned OUT … is a public engagement tool focusing on the daily carbon footprints of individuals. It uses the serious games approach, providing an interactive and engaging way to educate and empower individuals without overwhelming them. Integrating the topic of the transition to heat pumps into the game cards [informs] players about the topic and engage[s] them in conversations. This approach not only raises awareness but also motivates individuals to take action by informing them about the current transition schemes, such as UK BUS, ultimately accelerating the transition.”
Binoy Thomas, MA User Experience Design Student, London College of Communication: “Transform the traditional heat pump into a vibrant, eco-friendly garden feature. Integrate a hydroponic modular system, allowing plants to flourish around the unit. Add a green cap that symbolises power saving, equipped with a small solar attachment and a speculative microalgae panel to produce additional energy. This design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of heat pumps but also highlights their role in sustainable living, encouraging households to adopt this low-carbon technology and contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions.”
