My name is Oisin Tully, and I am an adventurous product design graduate passionate about all things design related from human-centred problem solving to prototyping and modelmaking to visualisation, film, media and everything in between. I strive to design with thought and intention, creating solutions to real problems that have real value for real people. I believe that good design cannot be done from behind a screen, that my desire to see possibility in the world, my experiences, and my ability to empathise with other people’s experiences will be the foundations for making a difference in my career as a product designer.
BDN Shelter Project: A New Model for Climate-Responsive Refugee Living
The number of refugees and displaced persons has increased at an unprecedented rate over the past two decades as wars, humanitarian crises, and climate disasters have intensified. Within emergency shelter environments, heat stress remains a critical but insufficiently addressed problem, contributing to discomfort, poor health, reduced wellbeing, and in severe cases, death in already vulnerable conditions.
The BDN Shelter, named after the Bedouin Nomads, responds to this challenge through an ancient windcatcher-inspired design that promotes passive airflow through the adjustable outer fabrics and helps reduce heat build-up inside the shelter. Rather than functioning only as a temporary tent, the system evolved into a modular shelter platform capable of supporting a range of uses, including camp-wide shading, shared spaces, market areas, and adaptable camp layouts. BDN Shelter offers more than just thermal relief. It proposes a flexible, human-centred shelter system designed to improve comfort, support community life, and adapt to the changing needs of displaced populations.
