Sleep Products – a range of products related to sleep and security
A product range including a Bedside Table that dismantles to become a form of self-defence and a Child’s blanket that can be triggered to display encapsulated lights.
I am a graduate of the RCA where I studied “Design Products” under Professor Ron Arad. My career has developed into many areas of the discipline creating one off, batch and mass-produced products. My recent ideas explore the emotional interaction between products and the possibilities of technological innovation. The results being internationally recognised, exhibited and featured in various media/press features. My interest in technological innovation combined with clear communications of ideas and concepts has lead into associations with various groups of artists/designers and working for a number of clients providing visualisations of some high profile sculptures, buildings and events. I co-founded a new company called “What’s in the Box” with illustrator Gina Birch that blends our creative talents for the children’s market to design, produce and retail books and products.
My research investigates design and emotion. I explore the interrelationship of aesthetic appearance informed by function and technological innovation. Sleep Products question issues related to safety at night that involve security, protection and the potential alleviation of fear. They were designed to improve the user’s wellbeing by use of materials and stimuli to produce psychological benefit, and this research contributes to ongoing debates concerning psychological and physical safety and the potential role of design. Both products maintain a balance between innovation and familiarity, where security is engendered through either the possibility to defend or the facility to soothe through enchantment encapsulated within the familiar and the everyday.
The ‘Safe Bedside Table’ appears to be a familiar everyday object that transforms into a club and shield if an intruder enters the room. The Table has been widely exposed in a range of ways including an exhibition in a contemporary furniture shop Aram [London]; as part of an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art New York called ‘safe - design takes on risk’. The table was recently market tested by the Richard and Judy show on Channel 4 who in a feature took it into the street to ask people’s opinions. It has also been listed on a large number of blogs resulting in over 10,000 hits a month on the website jamesmcadam.co.uk.
The Light Blanket is a comfort blanket or night-light used to help children sleep. It allows the child to interact and to control the encapsulated light source. The blanket responds to movement that triggers colour pattern sequences. This product too has had a wide reception of interest, starting with an exhibition at the Science Museum [London] called ‘Future product’. With various press reviews one of which was on the BBC online website and the blanket also featured in a number of international TV shows such as CNN 360 design, and a BBC Radio 4 programme Inspiration. The Blanket was also part of the exhibiton ‘Safe’ at MoMA.
