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Pushing the boundaries of eco design with Arrow

The time-critical search for a greener material

Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne

David Irwin Design

Chemical engineeringCircular economyDesignSustainabilityProof of conceptResearch

Their Challenge

David Irwin is a visionary designer redefining sustainability at his Newcastle-based studio. With a progressive approach to furniture, lighting and accessories, he blends cutting-edge innovation with an unwavering commitment to circularity and simplicity. His unique designs, crafted using eco-conscious materials and processes, have attracted interest from high-profile retail and hospitality brands.

David’s ultimate mission is to disrupt the design world by developing bio-based materials as alternatives to petrochemical moulded furniture. He wanted to make a suitable bioplastic which could be produced at scale within his specifications so it was ideal for furniture design. The first objective was to create an injection-moulded chair from a bespoke bioplastic material – an ambitious challenge requiring a multi-disciplinary approach and expert resources.

Getting the science right in time for a vital deadline

David now faced a significant hurdle, he didn’t have the knowledge of polymer formulation to create something bespoke to his requirements, which the Arrow team were able to do. He also needed to develop and test bioplastic materials in time to meet the deadline for UK’s Creative Catalyst Award, a prestigious programme that provides much-needed funding to high-potential creative businesses. To succeed, David needed access to cutting-edge expertise, facilities and a team capable of moving the project forward at pace. Recognising the need for a boundary-pushing partner, David turned to Arrow for their multidisciplinary expertise and collaborative spirit.

The Arrow team at Northumbria University exceeded every expectation, pushing the project forward in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The Arrow project was a turning point for my business – I really couldn’t have achieved all this without them.
David Irwin

founder, David Irwin Design

Arrow Analyses the Business Challenge

Arrow brings together the expertise and resources

Arrow brought together a dream team of experts and state-of-the-art resources at Northumbria University for the project. Arrow’s Senior Innovation Associate Gareth Crapper and Business Development Manager, Robyn Liddle facilitated access to specialist labs and equipment, while Arrow Senior Innovation Associate Craig Hodgson experimented with materials, moulding test samples and offering insights into the bioplastic development process.

Working together for real results – Arrow’s solution for success

This multidisciplinary project seamlessly blended design, science and engineering to tackle the challenge on all fronts. For David, stepping into the world of chemistry was transformative – seeing raw materials evolve into proof-of-concept samples was an eye-opening experience.

The results of the lab work and experimentation were a huge success, validating David’s idea and leaving everyone involved thrilled with the outcome. They’d created a 25g bioplastic sample that enabled David to enter the Innovate UK Creative Catalyst competition – a prestigious funding award he went on to win.

The Arrow project was the catalyst for a strong collaborative relationship between David Irwin Design and Northumbria University – following the Arrow project David commissioned further contract research with the Northumbria University team. Alongside scaling his green-materials idea, he has taken on a new role as Assistant Professor at Northumbria University’s School of Design, where he shares his insights and inspires the next generation of designers.

David’s engagement with Arrow highlights the power of collaboration in driving innovation. From imaginative spark to proof-of-concept, a shared mission can turn big ideas into tangible outcomes.

Hear from our university partners

The intersection of design and sustainable materials is an amazing place to be! It's really fulfilling to work with a great local company, where bringing our experience, enthusiasm, industry contacts and capability really let David push forward on his project. We're wishing all the success in bringing this concept to market, and will be there to help with any and all materials challenges.
Gareth Crapper

Arrow Senior Innovation Associate, Northumbria University

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founder, David Irwin Design

The Arrow team at Northumbria University exceeded every expectation, pushing the project forward in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The Arrow project was a turning point for my business – I really couldn’t have achieved all this without them.
Read Success Story
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The project with Arrow and NICD helped us understand the potential of AI in our field and connected us with world-class experts. Their support was instrumental in shaping our digital application and securing further funding and investment.
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Founder and MD, Your Health and Care Ltd

Thanks to Arrow, I was able to realise and better understand specific business and market opportunities.
Dik Barton

COO & Founder, Armatrex

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Julie Wilson

Co-founder, Settld

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Jo Yuill

Founder, Yu Cook

Arrow has helped us move forward through research into recycled materials, research into energy efficiency, and support to prototype our product. It’s been so, so helpful to move our business forward.
Greg Short

Director, Fyto

The Arrow project exceeded our expectations, providing in-depth and broad expertise in our areas of interest.
Read Success Story
Jurek Kozyra

Founder CEO of Nanovery

Working with Newcastle University helped us identify gaps in our team and has allowed us to employ more staff and fund PhD students. We have also cemented our relationship with the University's Centre for Cancer.
Read Success Story
Dylan McKee

Co-founder of Nebula Labs

The project went really well because NICD are obviously specialists at what they do and we are specialists at the technology that we work with. So, the two of us coming together was a really good combination and collaboration because we brought our skills from the app sector and they added their expertise in AI, data analysis and machine learning.
Read Success Story
Janine Craig

Shop by Shape Founder

That first conversation with Arrow was a revelation. I hadn’t realised how much help was available from the Universities right on my doorstep. The expertise and brilliant minds at the National Innovation Centre for Data have accelerated my progress in a way I’d never thought possible.
Read Success Story
Louise Thompson

Founder and CEO, Myfolks

I strongly recommend Arrow to any business or project with a scientific need that’s holding them back. My collaboration with the Arrow team wasn’t just about academic insight, it was about creating something meaningful together. Arrow accelerated Myfolks’ progress, provided valuable credibility and turned a daunting challenge into a manageable and rewarding journey.
Read Success Story
Nick Read

Founder, Vita-Rhize

Our partnership with Arrow has provided access to technology and research resources that we were unable to access ourselves and has provides a real-world boost to our business. The project has not only helped us advance our product from Technology Readiness Level 3 to Technology Readiness Level 7, but it has also given us the confidence and resources we need to keep pushing the boundaries of sustainable agriculture. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and we wholeheartedly recommend Arrow to any business looking to innovate and make a positive impact.
Read Success Story
Chris Archer

Production Manager, Corehaus

The partnership with Arrow has been a game-changer for us. It’s helped us overcome significant operational challenges and reinforced our commitment to excellence and innovation in the modular housing industry. The insights and support we received have informed strategic decisions that will drive our business forward and, more importantly, improve our ability to make a positive impact on society.
Read Success Story
Mark Bennett

Founder and Owner, Carerflare

Arrow gave me critical support that has significantly boosted Carerflare’s confidence in achieving its objectives. The Arrow project has been pivotal in reducing development time and helping me leap over potential pitfalls. The path to market now looks smooth and we’re eager to get cracking.
Read Success Story
Matt Wilson

Managing Director, Intelligent Gels

Arrow gave us the tools to tackle a complex problem head-on. Their approach has not only advanced our product development, but strengthened our partnership with Durham University, setting the stage for future innovation in the region.
Read Success Story
David Irwin

founder, David Irwin Design

The Arrow team at Northumbria University exceeded every expectation, pushing the project forward in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The Arrow project was a turning point for my business – I really couldn’t have achieved all this without them.
Read Success Story
Roxana Montazerian

CEO and founder, ROXID

The project with Arrow and NICD helped us understand the potential of AI in our field and connected us with world-class experts. Their support was instrumental in shaping our digital application and securing further funding and investment.
Read Success Story
Lee Callender

Founder, WindoWeb

Arrow’s support has been invaluable and arrived just when I needed it most. Their professionalism, speed and enthusiasm helped me transform a ten-year-old concept into a tangible product. I’d recommend Arrow to anyone—there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Read Success Story
Andrew Turner

Founder, Andrew Turner Inventions

The expertise provided by Arrow was incredibly valuable. Their specialised knowledge helped solve a very niche problem, and their support exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend Arrow to anyone needing targeted academic expertise to advance their innovation.
Read Success Story
Vahid Walker

Founder, Walker Subsea Engineering

The Arrow programme has been instrumental in helping us refine our underwater battery technology. Northumbria University’s expertise in fluid chemistry gave us insights that we wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. Beyond technical support, the connections and networking opportunities have been invaluable. This project has opened doors for continued collaboration, and we look forward to working with the University on future innovations.
Read Success Story
Leanne Tweddle

Philanthropy and Marketing Manager, Blyth Star

As an organisation, Blyth Star can be quite complicated to understand, but I feel like the team I was working with really got a handle quickly on who we are, what we do and where our limits lie, which helped them to deliver a project which had practical outputs which would help make a real difference.
Read Success Story
James Harriman-Smith

Senior Lecturer and Public Orator, Newcastle University

I would encourage colleagues to do an Arrow project as it provides a pathway to interact with local businesses, and a new way of looking at their research.
Ryan Waite

Research Scientist, LightOx

Working with Arrow allowed us to research a topic we wouldn’t have been able to spare the resources for internally. The work was done very well and produced results worth following up on. We would recommend Arrow to others.
Glenda Devlin

Founder and MD, Your Health and Care Ltd

Thanks to Arrow, I was able to realise and better understand specific business and market opportunities.
Dik Barton

COO & Founder, Armatrex

There’s no way as a start up SME commercial entity that we’d be where we are now without the support of Arrow.
Julie Wilson

Co-founder, Settld

Arrow helped us develop our MPV which helped us win two Innovate UK Awards and seed funding. I would definitely recommend working with Arrow
Jo Yuill

Founder, Yu Cook

Arrow has helped us move forward through research into recycled materials, research into energy efficiency, and support to prototype our product. It’s been so, so helpful to move our business forward.
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