“To empower a new generation to navigate independently through learning,
exploration, and experience outdoors.”
Wayfinder
Young adults are increasingly reliant on GPS-based technology, reducing both confidence and competence in independent navigation. This dependency is reflected in rising Mountain Rescue Team callouts among 18-24 year olds, highlighting a gap in foundational outdoor skills. There is an opportunity to reposition navigation not as a task outsourced to technology, but as an empowering, learnable life skill.
How does Wayfinder work?
Beneath its glare-free, non-touchscreen E-Ink display, the product houses a GPS, wireless charging, Edge Ai processing and a three-day LiPo battery. The display bezel is engineered with a deep, diagonal ribbing texture for maximum grip in all weathers, when cycling through navigation instructions.
When hikers arrive at critical stress points, like a confusing fork in the trail – they often feel anxious. However, Wayfinder directly supports them by breaking the challenge down into bite-sized steps, which are cycled through via the bi-directional clicking bezel.
Through intentionally repetitive instructions, the user builds confidence and long-term skills – for example the user is actively prompted to orientate their map, read grip references, and observe the physical landscape around them.
In summary, the user would upload a pre-planned / pre-selected hiking route GPX file to the device via bluetooth. They would then arrive at the start point location, cycle through the instructions on the E-Ink display, find their location on the map, find their direction of travel (bearing), look up at their surroundings and begin their hiking adventure.
What are some example instructions?
How is it sustainable?
The product has been designed with sustainability and repair-ability in mind; for example if a user managed to break the baseplate, they could merely replace just this part. The four M1.6 phillips head screws, with their silicone washers, could simply be unscrewed and mounted to the new baseplate, with its integrated compass. Furthermore, in-line with 2026 EU legislation – the “Right to Repair” directive, the battery must be replaceable, further supporting the need for the design for disassembly aspects Wayfinder has integrated.
What does Wayfinder mean for Users?
Through rigorous user testing and multiple user evaluation stages, some of the key pieces of feedback I received included; that users loved the “simple” E-Ink UI, noting that it felt like a tool that perfectly complemented the analogue compass rather than being a distracting gadget. Other comments included how the display naturally fits within the “semantics of the compass” and show clear guidance that some found “therapeutic”.
“Wayfinder – a deliberate intersection of analogue and heritage utility with new technology”
NoiDeer – Team Project
Preventing Deer-Vehicle Collisions on Country Roads in the UK
A group project, focused on preventing vehicle collisions with wildlife, working with NatureScot’s Deer Policy Division. This was a fantastic project working alongside Elise Parker (BA Design), Tom Llewellyn and George Fisher (BA Industrial Design), developing a roadside warning post with build in animal detection using infrared sensors and LED lights, aiming to alert drivers to the dangers of present wildlife, close to the roadside.
We have been incredibly well supported by the university in order to develop this project into a start-up, via the Runway to LUInc (Loughborough University Incubator) scheme. We have been fortunate enough to work alongside some amazing names in industry as well as pitch our work as part of University competitions where we have successfully been awarded funding twice, which will enable us to continue to develop the product.
