At Future Space, some of the most meaningful moments happen when industry challenges meet student creativity. This autumn, mobility innovator Supersmith opened its doors to nearly 80 undergraduate Product Design students from UWE Bristol, inviting them to help shape the future of one of the UK’s most exciting emerging products: the 3Scooter.
And yes – that is a teensy tiny 3Scooter on your screen…
A Real Brief for a Real Company
Supersmith, based at Future Space, is on a mission to make movement easier for everyone. Their 3Scooter is a compact, beautifully engineered mobility solution designed to support independence, comfort and confidence. But to take the product even further, the team wanted fresh thinking.
So they set a challenge.
Each student team was asked to choose one design brief and develop:
- Product packaging
- Seat cushioning
- Arm rest
- Back rest
- Accessories
- A way to lift the scooter into a car boot
In just two weeks, students moved from early concepts to fully formed prototypes. Their work culminated in a pitch to Supersmith’s Tom, Charlie and Alex, as well as members of the Supersmith user community.
Creativity with Purpose
The results were extraordinary.
Students tackled real-world engineering challenges – comfort, ergonomics, material choice, usability, and sustainability – all while keeping true to the needs of 3Scooter users. Several teams explored inventive solutions for boot accessibility. Others designed adaptive cushioning for long-term comfort, or accessories that would make the scooter more customisable and expressive.
Supersmith expected good ideas. They did not expect ideas this good. As the Supersmith team reflected:
“It was magical to see such great young talent share so much enthusiasm for what we’ve built. Some thought of things we’d never even considered.”
Broadening the Conversation Around Mobility
For Supersmith, this project wasn’t just about product improvements. It was about shifting how future designers think about movement.
Mobility is often treated as a niche topic – something only specialists focus on. But when rising engineers begin factoring accessibility into everyday design challenges, mobility becomes a shared responsibility. The Supersmith team was struck by how naturally students approached constraints around comfort, independence and inclusivity.
As they put it:
“These students managed to turn real-world mobility challenges into opportunities for smarter, more inclusive design.”
That is the essence of a Future Space collaboration: widening the circle of people who think deeply about real problems, then empowering them to shape better solutions.
A Win for Students, a Win for Business
Projects like this bring UWE’s design curriculum to life. Students gain experience with a live brief, learn to communicate with real clients, and see the real impact of their creativity. Meanwhile, businesses gain insight, inspiration and access to emerging talent.
For Supersmith, the collaboration has sparked new ideas and fed directly into ongoing product development as the company continues to grow from its Future Space base.
And now?
Now comes the hardest part.
Choosing a winner.
