David Irwin with a model of the railings.

WHEN local design student David Irwin finishes university this year he will be leaving his mark for generations to come.

For the Hillsborough student has designed the gates and railings which will be incorporated into Northumbria University's new City Campus East.

21-year-old David is a final year student on the 3D Furniture and Product Design course at the University and his design was selected from around 30 other submissions from students on the same course.

David's design features tubular bars of stainless steel which represent the nervous system. The underlying concept is based on the two sides of the brain - the spatial side for the School of Design and the structured side for the School of Law.

David said: "I created the analogy between the brain and its nervous system to the landscape and its railings, acting as systems of transport and movement to guide people around the area and entice them into the complex. The use of the railings is primarily to subconsciously transport and usher people into and around the buildings as required."

He added: "The idea of movement and flow of people became a main issue. I took inspiration from the ebb and flow of a river, creating movement with a convex/concave pattern which ties in neatly with the design of the buildings themselves."

Trevor Thurlow, Director of Estates at Northumbria, said: "We asked each of the students to do a formal presentation of their design. The standard of their creative work was extremely high and their presentations were very professional.

"However David's entry stood out. both for its creative thinking and in the practical way he adhered to the brief."