Student's scuba boat scoops design award

A customised boat for scuba divers today won a major design award for a crafty Dublin student.

Shane Murphy, 23 scooped the 2006 Dyson Student Design Award for his Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), which uses waterjet technology and includes an adjustable platform for entering and leaving the water.

Mr Murphy, who graduated from NCAD last year, said sports like scuba diving can be intimidating to older and heavier divers because clambering back on board a boat is difficult.

“My design makes the sport less exclusive and not just for the young and fit. Most boats used for scuba diving are just re-kitted boats that were previously used for other uses,” he said.

Mr Murphy gets a cheque for €2,000 and will represent Ireland in the international James Dyson Award next year.

The judges said Mr Murphy’s RIB could make diving less strenuous and limit back damage.

A runner-up award was presented to Emma Brannigan, 23, for her 'Confidence Chair', designed for helping elderly and weak hospital patients.

The armrests extend upwards and outwards to provide support when the occupier gets up and sits down.

A record number of entries was received for the third annual Dyson Awards this year.

Dyson boss James Dyson said: “The award recognises young designers and engineers that demonstrate Dyson’s design philosophy: the ability to think differently, persist through setbacks and create functional, innovative products that improve the way we live.

“Each generation, a new group of designers extend our expectations of technology, our appreciation of design and our hopes for products and engineering of the future.

"It is these people, the young Alex Moultons, Andre Citroens and Akio Maritas of today that I want to encourage and support.”