Brompton exhibits new life for old parts with London Metropolitan University at the London Design Festival

Iconic bike manufacturer Brompton has partnered with London Metropolitan University to find a second life for out-of-service components from Brompton’s London factory and growing cycle-hire network.

Product & Furniture Design BA students from London Metropolitan University were challenged to work with wit, insight and economy to explore designs that delight and surprise, whilst also making effective use of their chosen bike component.

The resulting pieces demonstrate true ingenuity, whilst engaging meaningfully with the need for circular thinking in design & manufacturing systems.

With an overall winner receiving their own Brompton bike, and runners-up receiving 6 months access to the Brompton Bike Hire scheme, the project will be exhibited during the 2022 London Design Festival at Brompton’s flagship Covent Garden store from 17th – 25th September.

With their long-standing design heritage and traditions, Brompton were the perfect partner for the University to collaborate with. 80% of the componentry on Brompton bikes is designed and made specifically for the company, and off-the shelf parts are never used just for the sake of simplicity. Instead they prefer to engineer the best component for the task, even if this means following the more complex route of developing these in-house.

The collaboration has produced some stunning, innovative and truly unique pieces, ranging from whimsical games to household items. Every piece has been carefully considered, with the chosen component key to the design and functioning of the piece.

Simon Hasan, Course Leader, BA Product and Furniture Design, London Metropolitan University, said:

“As the designers of tomorrow, our students embraced the opportunity to consider these components as both ready-made objects and raw materials for newly imagined items.

‘’Looking for hidden properties within the chosen piece, the group sought to understand how these might be used elegantly and intelligently in a new context.”

Phill Elston, Operations Director at Brompton said:

“Brompton are very proud to partner with London Metropolitan University and the future generation of designers to give Brompton bike components a second life. The work celebrates the exceptional robustness and inherent utility of our bike by finding novel ways of repurposing parts that eventually wear through usage.

‘’We believe it is not good enough just to make a product that enables others to be environmentally conscientious, we must always challenge ourselves to improve and be respectful of our planet.”