​Joseph Coleman, Product Designer at Plymouth University, has won the prestigious RSA Student Design Award's Modern Age Competition with his 'Relative' message delivery device.

Trying to emulate a letter delivered by a postman, it is a simple printer that brings greetings and messages to the older generation.

Unlike a letter, it is sent via sms messaging or email by the younger generation, therefore plugging into their lifestyle, but arrives at the older recipient's printer just like receiving a colour postcard.

​Joe's inspiration came from observing that UK's overseas service personnel receive properly printed texts and emails delivered to them in envelopes.

The system works with clever adaptation of existing technologies; even the inkless colour paper are available from supermarkets now.

The RSA's brief was to design a domestic product or living environment for older people that surpasses conventional expectations.

This is the second consecutive year that Plymouth University has won this award, showing their insights into social and ethical design.

The RSA Student Design Awards scheme challenges professional designers-in-training to apply their skills to difficult social issues. Since its birth as an industrial bursaries scheme in the 1920s, these awards have closely mirrored the evolution of professional design from single-discipline craftsmanship and narrowly-defined design for industry to more diffuse forms of service innovation and socially-inclusive professional practice.