Two Cardiff Metropolitan University students have topped the bill at the annual W2W Design Awards held in Dublin, Ireland, with their accessible approach to collaborative working.

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Product design students Jake Round and Ryan Daughtery impressed the judging panel with their collaborative laboratory 'Co-Lab'. Designed to be adjusted to create open and private workplace settings, the pod took its inspiration from the segments of a Terry's Chocolate Orange.

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This year the annual completion challenged design students from across the EU to produce products using the 'Circular Economy' principles, with a particular focus on designs that could improve natural human interactions in the work/learn space.

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The duo, both in their final year studying Product Design at Cardiff Met, developed the concept following a period of research, which identified the need for more adaptable spaces.

Co-designer of the Co-Lab, Ryan Daughtery said: "Most modern office environments don't provide people with an option for privacy. Spaces are often completely private, semi private or not at all. With Co-Lab we've catered for all those options without the need to needlessly move around a working environment.

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"Coming joint-first in this competition, after all the hurdles that the project has thrown at us, is an honour. We never thought we would get this far, and it is thanks to a massively supportive team here at Cardiff Met that we even entered! We hope that this is just the beginning of Co-Lab!

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Senior Lecturer in Product Design at Cardiff Met, Clara Watkins said: "We're so proud of what Jake and Ryan have achieved here. Not only winning the W2W award showcase, but also in creating a product that is sensitive to all manner of modern office requirements.

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"From concept through to development, the pair have been nothing but driven. On behalf of the University, we wish them all the best with Co-Lab."