Made In Brunel returns to London on 9th – 12th June 2011 at a new venue: the Bargehouse on the Southbank (behind the OXO Tower). I have attended on several previous occasions and recommend it as an essential date for anyone interested in meeting London’s up-and-coming design talent.

It’s free, but register in advance.

Organised by students at Brunel University’s School of Engineering and Design, Made In Brunel showcases new concepts across all areas of design, many of which use elements of digital technology. You can read my review of the 2008 edition here.

Designers from Brunel play a key role in the MEX community. For the last several MEX events they’ve helped teams of industry professionals refine and visualise their ideas during the MEX Pathway working sessions.

Dominic Sebastian, 1 of 12 Brunel designers who participated at the most recent MEX, shared his thoughts on the exercise and an update on preparations for Made In Brunel:

“MEX acts as a catalyst for creative discussion, covering a spectrum of ideas and issues, all with the aim of improving the mobile user experience. As an industrial design student my exposure to mobile user experience was limited, but my first MEX in December 2010 showed how applicable the way of thinking is to design as a whole. I was able to take ideas presented on the future uses of RFID in advertising with 3D projections and apply it to neonatal ventilator designs, making the concept much more user friendly and engaging.

“My next MEX, in May 2010, was just as valuable, if not more, and we were presented with new ideas and issues. A barbeque and summer cocktails sweetened the deal…

“As for now, we are back finishing our degrees and preparing for our Made in Brunel show, held this year at Bargehouse, SE1 9PH, from the 9th till the 12th of June. We’d love to see you there.”

Several of the Brunel designers also contributed inspiring selections of videos and images to a special MEX series.