Catrin Brunt
Passionate about sustainability and trend forecasting, I am a Colour, Material, Finish Designer, specialising in future luxury materials. With skills in pattern, surfacing and concept development.
Passionate about sustainability and trend forecasting, I am a Colour, Material, Finish Designer, specialising in future luxury materials. With skills in pattern, surfacing and concept development.
Osteoarthritis causes stiffness, swelling and inflammation to the joints making it difficult to carry out day to day activities for users. The project investigates the design of a toothbrush aiming to increase the quality of life of users by enabling them to brush their teeth with more comfort, resulting in better oral health and an increase in independence. The solution, Nia is an ergonomically designed toothbrush for women, made from recyclable materials.
The project began with the investigation of osteoarthritis, which decreases grip strength in users. It was found that there are few solutions that support the user’s requirement of an ergonomic handle and electric toothbrushing, which is proven to be more effective at combatting gum decease and removing plaque. During research it was established that 73% of those living with osteoarthritis are older than 55 and 60% of are female. This formed the target user group, which is often under catered for.
Initially plasticine was utilised to achieve an ergonomic response that supported the user’s hand. The handle was made to be larger than the average toothbrush in order to increase grip ability for the user. The power button was also raised to make it easier to control.
To increase marketability, a colour and material story was established using trend led research from sources such as WGSN and Stylus. The chosen story used earthy and technology driven colours, highlighted as being key colours for 2026 and 2027, helping to tell the story of “Dawn until Dusk” for the chosen colour options for the product. This connection to the environment and day to day routines makes the product more appealing by establishing a user connection.
Brunelda was designed during Business Enterprise Design module as a group project. The product provides a more comfortable, task-specific, trans-radial prosthetic for women in Zimbabwe, and was in partnership with the Jairos Juri Association Charity in Harare, Zimbabwe. The product is projected to positively impact 1000 women in Zimbabwe.
The project challenged students to construct, not only a product suited to the user, but a business and marketing plan; growing their range of already established skills and placing the product in a realistic scenario.
2024 – Present: Graduate CMF Designer, Bentley Motors
2021 – 2023: Trainee Design Manager, Bowmer and Kirkland
2021: UX Research Intern, Manchester Metropolitan University Library