News release - Drains take strain in student's project
17 June 2008
Many of us purport to do our best thinking on the throne – but when Southampton Solent University student Matt Gregory had his eureka moment, it led to months of mapping out the city's sewerage system.
The BA (Hons) Graphic Design student, from Chichester, tracked a trail from the flush of his loo at his home in Sandhurst Road to the sewage recycling plant in Millbrook Road West as part of his final-year degree project.
"I had initially been interested in doing something on water – and the idea of following the flush seemed like an interesting proposition," said Matt.
Along the four-mile journey, Matt, with the help of Southern Water, mapped out the system, noting the depth of the pipes and what lay above, including the various roads and parks. He also photographed every manhole cover en route, pointing out their different designs.
"I suppose it's fairly strange for a student to be so preoccupied with their underground sewerage system and manholes – but it was extremely interesting, both as a piece of design, and as a way of thinking about water and recycling waste," said Matt.
Southampton Solent University lecturer in Design, Nick Long, added: "Matt's final major project became a strange odyessy through Southampton sewers. His graphic mapping of the journey from his home to the sewerage works and on to the sea, was an excellent piece of visual research into a hidden world."
Matt's work, along with the work of other Graphic Design students, forms part of Southampton Solent University's final-year degree shows, at the Millais Building, East Park Terrace, from 13 – 19 June 2008.
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