Splitwave Twintip Hydrofoil Kiteboard: an example of a design project developed towards commercial realisation in conjunction with an MSc in Enterprise

Year: 2009
Editor: Clarke, A, Ion, W, McMahon, C and Hogarth, P
Author: Dowlen, Chris; Townsend, Barney
Section: COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
Page(s): 97-102

Abstract

The paper demonstrates a case study of a hydrofoil kiteboard developed on the London South Bank University's MSc course in Enterprise, where students take what have mostly been their final year projects through towards commercialisation. The concept is that graduates take a project, typically a final year undergraduate design project but not exclusively so, to a stage that demonstrates the commercial and technical viability of the concept, obtaining an MSc in Enterprise at the same time. The enterprise process moves from concept to include validation, marketing, business plans, intellectual property, prototyping, dealing with technical issues, alongside developing an MSc using a learning contract. The case study shows how these topics have been incorporated into a particular MSc, including how aspects of IP and prototyping. The paper concludes by taking a reflective look at the learning experiences that have been developed, and a forward look at where the project is heading.

Keywords: Design projects, enterprise, product development, intellectual property, commercialisation