Summer Research Series: Aoife Murphy - Product Design and Technology

Course: BSc in Products design and technology.

Supervisor: Dr Muireann McMahon

Name of research project/activity: Reimagining Traditional Irish Sheep Wool Processing: Exploring innovation and growth opportunities through the “Glan Wool Scouring Equipment” Design Concept.

 

Tell me a bit about yourself and why you decided to study product design as you.

I’m from Clare, but I went to school in the city because I live just over the border. I’ve always liked art and physics and was looking for something that combined creative thinking with technical aspects. Product design is perfect for this because it involves problem-solving and designing for manufacturing, as well as a lot of drawing and creativity.

 

What motivated you to apply for the summer bursary programme?

I just finished my fourth year, and I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. The opportunity to explore a research career seemed appealing, especially since I enjoyed the research aspect of my Final Year Project (FYP). Without the constraints of a set time limit, I found myself getting really into it. I like the idea of extending my research further because I genuinely enjoyed my FYP and want to delve deeper into it.

 

What are you doing as part of your research here at UL?

As an extension of my Final Year Project (FYP), I am writing a research paper that delves further into the sheep wool industry in Ireland, with a particular focus on the scouring stage of processing. Specifically, I am examining hand scouring and exploring assistive equipment to help improve this process.

 

What skills have you developed over the summer?

Formal writing skills, including researching credible sources and proper citation, not the sort of thing we usually do in my course. We haven’t done many essays or much formal writing, and I’ve been working on improving these skills. Additionally, organization and self-motivation are crucial, as the project is largely self-led. The final deliverable and the method of achieving it are up to yourself, although you do have a supervisor for guidance but ultimately, you have to take the initiative and drive the project forward yourself.

 

What has this experience taught you and what would you recommend it to others?

To have confidence in your work, you need to choose what you want to do and you have to think about what you think you're going to be able to achieve. It's okay to be ambitious, but you also have to be realistic. I definitely recommend researching a topic that genuinely interests or excites you because it makes the process much more engaging. If you enjoy self-driven work, then I highly recommend pursuing this path.

 

What are your future career plans? Would you consider a career in research?

No set plans right now. No job lined up at the moment, but I definitely will consider a career in research now.