Product Designer
Birley Manufacturing, Sheffield | May 2018 - May 2019 (Placement Year)
Summary:
For my third year of University, I opted to complete a year-in-industry; I found the opportunity with Birley by approaching them directly by email. It was a relatively small company who engineer & manufacture (in-house) retail shop-fitting furniture, as well as interiors for the Rail industry.
I was immersed in working as part of a cross-functional team, working closely with the project manager, estimator and engineers to ensure that the customer’s vision was delivered exactly and promptly. I had the opportunity to manage the company’s relationship with one of our largest accounts, the RBS/NatWest Banking Group; I worked directly with RBS’s Head of Branch Design on several projects. The most notable of which was delivering their vision for the future of a new ‘Augmented Digital’ bank branch.
What I worked on:
Developed a new branch concept for RBS/NatWest. I worked directly with RBS’s Head of Branch Design to deliver their vision for the new ‘digital’ branch. I led the furniture design from initial concept, through to final design, engineering, manufacture and installation in their Leeds Victoria Branch. Click here for the NatWest Press Release.
I also developed a suite of furniture, which was installed in the RBS headquarters in Gogarburn, Edinburgh.
RBS/Ulster Bank commissioned Birley to deliver furniture for 3 more concept branches in Ireland; an estimated order value of over £100,000.
Developed and pitched retail concepts to stakeholders at RBS/Natwest, Waitrose, John Lewis, M&S and Sainsburys. Also helped to develop and present train interior concepts to Siemens.
Role: Product Designer
Company: Birley Manufacturing Ltd., Sheffield.
Tenure: May 2018 - May 2019 (Placement).