91¶¶Òõ

  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
91¶¶Òõ
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Get to know us
    • Why choose 91¶¶Òõ?
    • Explore our prospectus
    • Chat to our students
    • Ask us a question
    • Meet us
    • Open days and visits
    • Virtual tours
    • Applicant days
    • Meet us in your country
    • Campuses
    • Our campuses
    • Our city
    • Accommodation options
    • Our halls
    • Helping you find a home
    • What you can study
    • Find a course
    • Full A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Our academic departments
    • How to apply
    • Undergraduate application process
    • Postgraduate application process
    • International student application process
    • Apprenticeships
    • Transfer from another university
    • International students
    • Clearing
    • Funding your time at uni
    • Fees and financial support
    • What's included in your fees
    • 91¶¶Òõ Boost – extra financial help
    • Advice and guidance
    • Advice for students
    • Guide for offer holders
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and colleges
    • Supporting you
    • Your academic experience
    • Your wellbeing
    • Your career and employability
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Image of checkland building falmer campus
About us
  • About us
  • Your university
  • Governance and structure
  • Working with us
  • Statistics and legal
  • News and events
  • Contact us
  • News and events
  • News
  • 2015
  • Lighting the way

Lighting the way

The 91¶¶Òõ and the Dutch electronics giant Philips are linking up to research new designs for sustainable products with minimal environmental impact.

5 February 2015

The collaboration is being backed by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council which has awarded the university more than £60,000 over three years for a PhD student to work between 91¶¶Òõ and Philips’ headquarters in Eindhoven.

Philips, already one of the world’s leading producers of sustainable products, contacted the 91¶¶Òõ to collaborate on new designs after media reports highlighted the university’s cutting-edge research on the subject.

Professor Jonathan Chapman, the university’s Professor of Sustainable Design, has written books and has generated media interest around the world with his ideas on designing products with built-in emotional design.

Jonathan Chapman - lighting the way
Philips is a global company and this partnership could encourage other major companies to focus on helping preserve the world’s precious resources.

Professor Chapman, 91¶¶Òõ

He has called for designers to work on products that encourage consumers to keep their belongings longer: “We produce 40 tonnes of waste to make a tonne of products, and 98 per cent of these products are dumped within just six months. We can enhance resource efficiency and brand loyalty by designing things that people want to keep longer – building in emotionally durable design.”

One example produced by his students are shoes which reveal a hidden pattern when they fade with age – the longer you own them the more the design is revealed. Another is tea cups which reveal a pattern when staining takes effect.

Professor Chapman is internationally recognised for his pioneering work which already has influenced brands including Puma, H&M and Sony. He said: “The new collaboration with Philips is very exciting and provides us with an opportunity to have a massive impact on the way products are designed and manufactured.

Jon Mason, Senior Scientist with Philips Research, said: “This is a great opportunity to explore the relationship and opportunities between the design and user experience of lighting with circular business models. The aim is to provide people with positive product and service experiences that are sustainable in all respects.”

He said that, like food and water, light is a basic necessity that no human being should live without. However, 1.3 billion people – 20 per cent of the world’s population – lack access to electric light.

“Solar-powered lighting could eradicate this light poverty, so Philips developed solar-powered lanterns that are not only cheaper (they can provide a single room with clean light for $10-20 per year, compared to $50 for kerosene to burn in candles or lamps) – they also result in virtually zero carbon emissions. Because of sustainable solutions like these, Philips was the fastest riser amongst technology brands in the annual ranking of the top 50 Best Global Green Brands by leading brand consultancy, Interbrand in 2014.”

Jon Mason added: “As we bring people out of light poverty their relationship to lighting will change and evolve, the emotional aspects of lighting will become increasingly important.”

Back to top

Contact us

91¶¶Òõ
Mithras House
Lewes Road
91¶¶Òõ
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Explore our prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • The Student Contract

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents