Designer Rod Proves Great Catch For Top Angling Firm
Rod Gritten at Derby's display stand at the recent 2010 New Designers exhibition in London.
Rod's graphics for the robot design that won a national CAD (Computer Aided Design) competition earlier this year.
An award winning Product Design graduate from the University of Derby topped off a highly successful degree by landing a job with an internationally known sport products manufacturer.
Rod Gritten graduated from the University's BSc (Hons) Product Design degree course this summer (2010) with First Class honours.
During his three-year degree course he:
- appeared on Channel Five's The Gadget Show, using his skills to design a portable computer data storage device that would appeal to young children;
- won a national CAD (Computer Aided Design) Competition;
- received this year's 'Best In Show' prize at the University's own annual Degree Shows exhibition for his portable, fold-away kitchen water system design.
After completing his course this summer his designs appeared at the 2010 New Designers exhibition in London in July - the annual showcase for UK graduate design - where he was spotted by Leeda; the UK's main distributor of angling sport products, and owner of the Wychwood and MAP brands.
The Derby graduate begins working for Leeda, based in Redditch, as a Product Designer this month (September).
Rod, 25, originally from Barton Turf, Norfolk, said: "I was lucky enough to be offered a job by four different organisations but chose Leeda, as I was hugely impressed with the professionalism and career prospects there. It supplies more than 1,500 independent retailers and national distributors across the UK and Europe.
"The position will allow me to take my ideas all the way from concept to manufacture, which I found very appealing. There are also opportunities to travel internationally as the company has a buying and quality control office in northern China, and exhibits and attends trade shows in both Europe and America."
There is more good news. Rod's design work will appear in the September edition of Designer magazine.
He is also one of ten graduates shortlisted in the Engineering Graduate of the Year category, in the first annual Graduate 100 Awards. Winners will be announced at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel, in London, on Wednesday September 15.
Karl Hurn, Programme Leader for the University's Product Design programmes, said: "For a graduate to be offered four different jobs in the current economic climate is outstanding.
"Rod had an interesting and successful time during his degree studies and he looks set to go on to great things."
For further information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
