Bristol students win competition to design digital portal

The portal allows people to connect, in real-time, with others from across the world

A team of product design students has won a competition to design a digital portal that allows people to see into other cities across the world.

Four students from the University of the West of England (UWE), in Bristol, designed an "always on" video conferencing window in a competition.

The portal was first trialled last year, connecting Lithuania and Poland.

"It really excites me that my design might just become a reality in Bristol," said student, Joe Courtney.

The competition was run by Video Window and The Portal Unity Network.

The Portal Unity Network was created by the not-for-profit Benediktas Foundation, makers of the world's first outdoor portal sculpture.

They have been uniting people in Vilnius, in Lithiuania and Lublin, in Poland, since they installed portals there last year.

Mr Courtney, Daryl Hutchings and Luke Harris at the awards ceremony

Dependent on funding and public support, they are now looking to make Bristol a future city for this project aimed at "unifying people in uncertain times".

"We were asked to consider and design creative technical solutions and a visual identity which reflects the city's culture," said Mr Courtney.

"Working with a real-life client like Video Window gave me and the team an exciting peek into the industry."

The winning team also included Jonathon Francis, Luke Harris and Oliver Newey.

The Bristol portal would connect the Harbourside to a different city

The portal would be featured in Bristol's city centre and include a huge circular screen connected to another city so that people would have an insight into what's going on in a distant world.

Bristol-based company Video Widow are the partners who provide the software for the Portals always-on video connections.

Daryl Hutchings, CEO, said he was "inspired" by the group's work.

"Bringing this to Bristol would be a fantastic way to show of such a vibrant city," he said.

"We want to remove frustration and improve human connection, we are proud to power the portal and want to see it in our home city."

The portal has been successful in connecting Vilnius and Lublin

The winning group have been awarded a free trip to Lithuania, to meet the Portal Unity Network designing team and to share their ideas for Bristol's Portal.

"It has been a really great project to have been involved in and definitely the most interesting part of university so far," added Mr Courtney.

"Working together as a team drove us towards success and created some strong friendships."

Video Window are now looking to secure funding for the project so that the students' designs can become a reality.

Benediktas Gylys, founder of the Benediktas Foundation said: "In a world of increasingly polarising narratives, it is important to remember that we are all inseparably connected through our journey on this tiny beautiful spaceship called Earth.

"Portals are meant as an invitation to rise above disagreements and experience unity."