Product Design graduate on being shortlisted for award and having her work discussed with Queen Camilla
28 September 2026
This article refers to our BA(Hons) Sustainable Product Design course, which will be renamed to BA(Hons) Product Design for all new students from September 2027.
“It’s a reminder that thoughtful, inclusive design has a place in the wider furniture world,” says BA(Hons) Sustainable Product Design graduate Lottie Waterhouse, when asked how she feels being shortlisted for the New Furniture Maker Awards 2026.
Her series of children’s seating, EduFlex, is a design she credits as having grown out of studying in a creative environment that encouraged her to experiment and find real solutions. Having started out as a university project, her design has since been recognised at an award-finalist level, has interested local schools and been discussed with Queen Camilla.
“My final year project began by focusing on neurodivergent children in primary schools, looking at ways to increase focus in the classroom and reduce distraction from sensory toys given to children with ADHD,” Lottie told us. “This project incorporates seating and storage with a rocking aspect, allowing children to rock on their chair in a safe manner, dropping the stigmatising tools and creating subtlety. The units encourage autonomy in the classroom, with the flexibility of being able to push chairs together creating a range of modes and shapes.
“I was fortunate enough to collaborate on the project with The Charles Causley Trust, a literary charity. We provided chairs for one of their exhibitions, promoting accessibility of literature. This has developed into schools being interested in buying a number of these chairs, which is amazing!”
Speaking on the collaboration, Nicky Nutall from The Charles Causley Trust added: “We absolutely adore Lottie’s designs! This year we launched a ‘Causley Corners’ campaign as a way for our donors to directly support the provision of books, writers’ workshops and furniture in primary schools in Cornwall. As part of that brief, we asked Lottie for an illustrative design to use in our philanthropic giving paperwork, and so far, the designs have been really well received. The project was even among a range of charitable activities discussed with Queen Camilla at a royal visit in Cornwall.
“We especially love the versatility of Lottie’s design and the way it speaks to our values around sustainability and supporting neurodivergent children’s literacy. We have already had a couple of donors express interest in purchasing units for schools in Launceston, and we intend to use the designs as part of our fundraising night in Westminster Abbey later in the year”.
Studying at Falmouth
Lottie credits the course as having been “genuinely transformative” for her practice.
“It’s a course that doesn’t just teach you how to design, but teaches you how to think,” Lottie told us. “I’ve been encouraged to question assumptions, challenge conventional approaches and design with real people and real environments in mind. What I’ve valued most is the balance between creative freedom and rigorous, hands‑on making. You’re not just sketching ideas; you’re prototyping, testing, failing, improving and learning to justify every decision.”
For Lottie, it’s not just the course’s content itself she loved, but the sense of community that she describes as having equally shaped her. “The lecturers treat you like emerging designers rather than students, and the studio culture pushes you to refine your ideas through collaboration and critique. Being surrounded by people who care deeply about sustainability and inclusivity has made me more ambitious and more grounded at the same time.”
On being shortlisted
“To see my work shortlisted like this has been surreal in the best way. The project started as a university brief but quickly became something much more personal. To have the work I created — a response to the needs of children, teachers and learning environments that often get overlooked — recognised by industry professionals feels incredibly validating.
“It’s exciting but also grounding. It’s a reminder that thoughtful, inclusive design has a place in the wider furniture world, and that the hours spent prototyping and speaking with schools were worth it. Being shortlisted makes me feel proud, but it also motivates me to keep pushing the project forward and to continue designing with purpose.”
Speaking of Lottie’s recognition, Dr Simon Andrews, Falmouth’s course leader for BA(Hons) Sustainable Product Design, added: “This is a well-deserved recognition of Lottie’s outstanding achievement, professionalism and design talent. Throughout the project she demonstrated exemplary engagement with schools, manufacturers and industry partners, alongside a rigorous approach to technical development and sustainability auditing.”
Lottie will soon be exhibiting her work in November at the New Furniture Makers Exhibition.
You might also like
Music alumna on why she chose Falmouth, the creative cycle and releasing her new EP
Sustainable Product Design graduate on being shortlisted for the Engage2Innovate awards
Meet three Falmouth graduates recognised at this year’s World Illustration Awards
MA Illustration alumna on her upcoming art exhibition in Falmouth
Sam Jukes