UK design engineers celebrated as part of London Design Festival

Running from 19-21 September, the programme will include an exhibition, lectures and a competition, all of which will look at the creative inspiration behind engineering design and the commercial exploitation of engineered products and processes. On 19 September at 6pm, the design of Formula One racing cars will be examined in a lecture by Tony Purnell, visiting professor in engineering design at the University of Cambridge. Purnell will explore if regulations encourage or restrict design innovation and how the right regulations can allow for more design diversity in the sport, without damaging its competitiveness. On 20 September, Dr Julian Allwood, leader of the low carbon materials processing group at the University of Cambridge, will set out an agenda for making a difference to global carbon emissions, by using fewer new materials. Completing the programme, the finalists from the seven regional heats of the Innovation Hothouse competition will pitch to business moguls and compete for a £5,000 prize. Innovative projects ranging from a sailing safety solution to a machine that creates a new kind of recycled plastic have been selected to compete in the national initiative, a Dragon's Den-style competition for engineering students aimed at showcasing the best final year university student design projects. The London Design Festival runs until 23 September at the Victoria and Albert Museum.