Product Design

Christopher Gilmer

Hi, my name is Chris, and I am a final year Product Design student. I am 22, and in all my years my favourite thing in life has been creativity. I find it everywhere in our world and pursue it in many forms. I am a huge fan of music, playing rugby with my club, running and creative writing, and in all these things I try to create. 

In Product Design I have an affinity to working with CAD (Computer Aided Design), 3D printing and making mock-ups and prototypes in Figma for applications and systems. However, these are all a means to an end and that end is bringing joy and ease to people. My mission as a designer is to make people happy and I try to solve the problems I face in my projects in a manner that will yield happiness for those who experience them. 

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PEkko: A Tactile Musical Communication Tool Supporting Emotional and Verbal Expression in Children with Autism age

Ekko is a tactile musical communication tool designed to support children with autism in expressing emotions and developing verbal skills. Using colourful, textured Audio Tokens embedded with RFID, children can record, play back, and associate sounds with feelings or ideas. Ekko encourages creative expression and parallel play with caregivers or peers, helping to build communication routines in a sensory-friendly and emotionally supportive way. A companion app allows parents to monitor activity, assign new sounds, and stay connected to their child’s communication journey. Designed through user-centred research with therapists, parents, and children, Ekko offers an intuitive, customisable experience that makes sound interaction playful, meaningful, and accessible.