A blowy Paris day inspired Simon Warne, a Brunel Industrial Design student, to create Brollii, an umbrella that didn't poke other people in the eyes or bend backwards and break
in the wind.
Simon explained: “I originally came up with the idea of Brollii when I was in Paris standing in front of the Musée d'Orsay waiting to go into an art exhibition. Whilst queuing along with another 100 or so people it started to pour with rain and became very gusty.
“I watched as people struggled to open their umbrellas while being squashed in the crowd, then get poked in the eyes from flailing umbrella ribs in the windy conditions. I thought to myself, surely with the new technology and new materials available there must be a better solution than this!“
The result is an unbreakable brolly that opens inside-out and looks like it's upside-down. It opens over the top of people's heads and the ribs flex with the wind – so it won't be pushed inside out, like a traditional umbrella.
The design also means that the water is squeezed out as it is drawn back into its carrying tube, so you don't get damp carrying it after a downpour.
Simon trained with bespoke cabinet maker Halstock Cabinet Makers in Somerset, before deciding to expand his horizons by studying Industrial Design at Brunel.
His Brollii creation will be on show at the Made in Brunel design exhibition at the Business Design Centre, London N1 on June 8, 9, 10.
Note to Editors
Contact details:
Brunel University Press Office (Mon, Tues, Fri): 01895 265585. Email: press-office@brunel.ac.uk
Phil or Hannah at Communications Management: 01727 850761, phil@communicationsmanagement.co.uk, hannah@communicationsmanagement.co.uk
Simon Warne: email simon-warne@hotmail.co.uk