Treehouse invention takes out national award

Jason Khoo, 24-year-old industrial design graduate from Massey University, has designed a pre-built foundation for a tree house. Photo / Supplied

An Auckland's man invention aimed at getting kids to re-live the Kiwi past time of building a treehouse has taken out a national award.

Massey University industrial design graduate Jason Khoo was this afternoon announced national winner of the James Dyson Award, an initiative aimed at challenging young engineers and scientists.

Mr Khoo's 'tree mount' is a treehouse platform to help kids who want to reignite the backyard fun of climbing a tree and building a treehouse.

The tree mount can be easily mounted without going through the labour of traditional building methods, retaining fun of a DIY project without causing harm to the tree.

Mr Khoo was one of three finalists including Wellington Massey University student, Philip Leyton's, Triple Skin BMX Helmet and Wairarapa designer Emma Warren's sustainable shoe, Bound By 8, made from only natural latex and wool.

Awards head judge Mike Jensen said Mr Khoo's design changes current culture, engaging creativity to experience adventure and more outdoor play for families.

"In a current environment where we have so much digital distraction, this is a welcome break for parents and kids. Interestingly Jason didn't start out designing a tree house product. A bit like how James Dyson created the first bagless vacuum out of his need for a vacuum to clean properly, Tree Mount addresses a need to get more people outdoors and using their hands and creativity. The prototype is well resolved; actually Jason's model is amazing and for a student project, Tree Mount shows a strong understanding of aesthetic design," Mr Jensen says.

Jason has won $5,200 from the James Dyson Foundation, and an official fee prize package from the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand tailored to his design's intellectual property needs, and a year's membership to The Designer's Institute.

Mr Leyton's one-size-fits-all bike helmet uses a tension system so wearers can fully adjust the shape of the ventilated design to their head.

Mr Jensen says the helmet overcame some of the existing stigmas and physical discomfort associated with wearing helmets in the sport.

"In a sport where head accidents can be very serious, Triple Skin offers a solution that could create a cultural change."

Miss Warren says she sought to create a long lasting shoe made only of natural materials from New Zealand, while reviving the craft of shoe making.

Her design didn't require any glue, instead utilising the adhesive nature of wool felt to attach the shoe's elements.

Mr Jensen says Bound By 8 is a "beautiful ecological story creating a complete product from pure natural materials".

"The product development uses a manufacturing process that goes complete from paddock to product."

In 2001 New Zealand was the first of the British technology company's international markets to run a national product design award, which is now open to design students and graduates in 20 countries.

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