Dear Sir/ Madame

As a student of Swansea Institute of Higher Education (SIHE) I am currently in my 3rd year of study. I am enrolled on a BA Product Design course. For anyone who is unaware of what a product designer does, then just look around you. Almost everything man-made you see was designed by some sort of Product Designer that includes the fishing equipment we use.

Using angling as the topic of my final major project I am looking at existing fishing equipment and how it can alienate certain persons who may wish to fish. By this I mean disabled persons. Sometimes our equipment just isn’t suitable for certain users. Disabled anglers quite often rely on specialised fishing equipment. There is a constant drive for inclusive design; this means products that are not just designed for a certain market, In this case, designing for a more abed market. By researching into the needs and problems of all anglers (including disabled persons) I wish to design a product or re-design an existing product so that it can be used by a disabled person, but not make it so specialised that more able anglers wouldn’t use it.

As this project will be research driven I need plenty of feedback from anglers of all abilities. So as a fellow angler I’m asking you to think about your usual fishing trip. From getting you bait, Getting gear ready at night, Waking up in the morning, The journey, Setting up, landing fish…Any aspect of your trip. Let me know what problems you may have in the sport, it can be as small as cold hands tying hooks. Do you have any problems with existing fishing tackle? Do have any problems you believe a product would sort out. Whatever you have to say, I want to hear it.

As a little Incentive, all those who help me will be in the chance of winning a cheque for £50. Its not much, I am a student after all.

The winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted by email as soon as I have had enough replies.

Please feel free to reply to this, my email is [email protected]

We all want to improve our sport so please help me.

Thank you

Mr. Rhys Thomas, BA Product Design Student at SIHE