VCUarts Qatar’s Boost Lab to Hold Public Exhibition of New Products

University’s research lab extends call for proposals to local designers

Boost Lab, a research lab under the Institute for Creative Research at VCUarts Qatar, is holding a public exhibition from November 5 to December 5, 2023, at the VCUarts Qatar campus.

The exhibition showcases the first four products created and completed by Boost Lab researchers at VCUarts Qatar. These products are commercially available in retail shops and online.

The products on display are Shway^x, a checklist embosser designed by Yeon Geong Hwang; Seed Pod Mini, a songbird feeder designed by Rab McClure; Gorgeous, an indoor gardening accessory designed by Stella Colaleo, and Doha Takeaway, a set of portable souvenirs designed by Asma Derouiche.

The Lab’s lead researchers, Rab McClure, Director of Graduate Studies at VCUarts Qatar and Stella Colaleo, an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate Studies program, have also announced an open call to local designers holding a terminal degree in art or design to submit proposals for scalable product designs.

Local designers, including VCUarts Qatar alumni, staff and faculty, with an idea for a novel product are encouraged to apply. Applicants need to submit a written statement—two pages or less, with captioned illustrations—outlining the project they would like to develop with the Boost Lab. The statement should also describe the underlying problem and how gaps in the marketplace create an opening for a better solution.

Applicants also need to explain how their approach would produce a novel, innovative or more satisfying customer experience. The Boost Lab specializes in 3D printing for rapid prototyping and the proposals should articulate how they intend to leverage this capacity.

The deadline for proposals is January 1, 2024.

Rab McClure said, “Boost Lab is eager to help designers in Qatar develop product proposals that appeal to manufacturers and retailers. Designers who successfully protect and license intellectual property can benefit from sales income long after the design work is finished, giving them space to develop even more projects and ideas.

McClure also explained how Boost Lab’s research enhances Qatar’s creative sector. “Over the last few years, Qatar’s expanding cultural landscape has provided a suitable environment for nurturing artists and designers. Boost Lab’s research will add a new layer of awareness to this dynamic sector by teaching artists and designers to critically assess the marketplace, identify gaps, and propose novel and innovative solutions that people crave.”

Boost Lab Research Fellows receive research stipends, mentorship and structured guidance, helping them transform ideas into tangible commercial proposals. As university employees, Research Fellows will have access to institutional support, including intellectual property protection, production support and a share of proceeds from sales.

For further information about Boost Lab, the exhibition and product proposal submissions please contact Rab McClure ([email protected])

Photographs by Raviv Cohen.