Graduate demonstrates 2015: University of Brighton graduate Ellie Birkhead has designed a series of brushes with uncommon shapes for cleansing distinct objects .
Manufactured from beech wood and hog bristles, the brushes that Birkhead made for her graduate task had been every developed for more duties that simply cleaning footwear or sweeping floors.
“The vaguely acquainted but uncommon brushes challenge the user to define their personal functions and purposes in purchase to explain the suggestive kinds,” she informed Dezeen.
The set involves a circular brush with bristles that stage in the direction of the centre, which could be utilised for cleansing extended, thin elements like guitar necks.
A double-headed brush with two sets of bristles dealing with in opposite instructions is designed for sweeping two parallel surfaces at once, although a finger-mounted brush can be utilised for delving into small, out-of-attain nooks.
There is also a miniature dustpan and brush, as well as a two-handled employ created to enable a lot more rigorous scrubbing.
Like on conventional brushes, the bristles – obtained for the hair of the back of a hog and utilized for their strong but springy properties – are mounted into the beech handles in tightly packed bunches.
As part of her research, Birkhead gave the brushes to a group of volunteers to see what they created of them.
Advised utilizes varied from cleansing fluff off tights to brushing twins’ hair simultaneously. A single volunteer explained: “I massaged the palm of my hand with it for about two hours.”
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The concept for the venture came from Birkhead’s analysis into threatened British crafts.
“There are really number of brushmakers left in the Uk, and in Chesham – once the capital of brushmaking – only a single producer stays producing specialised handmade brushes: R Russell,” she explained. “My venture started with a visit to this brushmakers.”
Birkhead is far from alone in her investigations into classic British craftsmanship. In a current interview with Dezeen, designer Sebastian Cox explained how neglected strategies represent a new set of options.
The brushes have been presented in the course of the 2nd part of London’s New Designers graduate exhibition, which took place from 6 to 9 July 2015.
Birkhead’s other collections include brushes that are made from supplies sourced from various regions of the United kingdom, such as fishing net and driftwood from Brighton seashore, and antlers and horse hair from Berkshire. She has also reinterpreted a series of historical brushes.
Brushes have also fascinated designers including Najla El Zein – who created a set of “pleasure equipment” by combining uncommon components to type handles and bristles – and Dominic Wilcox, who produced coat hooks from hardened paintbrushes.