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So, I have now started an MA in Product Design at Nottingham Trent University. This space is going to be the timeline for my thoughts, research and decisions during my major design project this year.

Setting the scene: I completed my undergraduate degree, also in Product Design but at the university of Leeds, a year ago in June 2011. My major project was nothing to do with bikes; in fact it was under the umbrella of 'medical robotics', a support system for those suffering with OCD and other anxiety disorders in between seeking help from a GP and starting therapy. After finishing my degree I worked at a local bike shop in the year until now, with the ultimate goal of getting women more involved with cycling as well as general customer service, visual merchandising etc. Through working at the shop I have been able to experience different types of cycling, and the one that really resonated with me was mountain biking - of which I previously had little experience (of course, it helped that my mountain biking was able to start using a lovely Trek Lush S full-suspension demo bike!).

I have noticed, since my mountain biking revelation, that although there are many female-specific products available on the market they are not as technologically advanced as those available for road biking, and seem to be somewhat superficial. Furthermore, at the high-end, racing level, there is very little available to female riders. Being very feminine myself, I would relish the opportunity to not only have products that are female from a fit and performance point of view, but also that look pretty! I can appreciate that not everyone wants a flowery pink bicycle with matching helmet, but there must be a market for something in between that and what is available as a 'unisex' option. Also, these women are tough - I am by no means aggressive or even very good at mountain biking and I regularly stab myself in the shins with my pedals, this is not the worst of it. Every bone may have been broken and they will still get right back on that bike, they need products that is every bit as strong in both design and aesthetics.

My naive aim for this year is therefore:

To design products that will inspire women to try mountain biking

(Yes, this is vague, but it gives me room to change it!)