Kamile Mazeliauskaite

University of Nottingham > Engineering > Departments > Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering > PDM Exhibitions > 2025 > BEng students > Kamile Mazeliauskaite

This project reimagines the traditional enlarger for a new generation of film photographers. Designed with beginners in mind, it targets the intimidating, outdated, and often unreliable nature of second-hand enlargers that dominate the current market.

I chose to study Product Design and Manufacture because I’ve always been curious about how things are made – not just how they look, but how they function, fit together, and come to life. This course gave me the opportunity to explore that through a hands-on approach, combining creative thinking with physical making.

I’m especially drawn to the early defining stages of a project – the part where ideas take shape and where the tone is set for the creative and graphic direction of a product. I enjoy sketching, prototyping, and building – anything that lets me engage with the process physically and visually.

I’m also deeply interested in sustainability, and believe that as designers, we have a responsibility to consider the impact of the products we put into the world. This interest drives me to explore the use of recycled and circular materials, as well as more energy efficient manufacturing processes. Often, the process of simplifying a product to be more efficient – both environmentally and in terms of manufacturing – can be more complicated than creating a complex product. I enjoy the challenge of making design decisions that lead to better, more thoughtful outcomes – both for users and for the planet.

I thrive in dynamic, collaborative environments where there’s room to grow by doing – where I can learn from others, contribute meaningfully, and keep building on my skills. Whether it’s concept development, form exploration, or refining the details of a design, I’m motivated by the process of turning an idea into something tangible and impactful.

Kamile Mazeliauskaite, BEng Product Design and Manufacture

Digital portfolio

Modern Photographic Enlarger

A photographic enlarger is a tool used in darkroom printing to project and expose a film negative onto light-sensitive paper, creating a photographic print.

Darkroom printing is a tactile, almost meditative, process, but for many new users, the experience is overcomplicated by clunky equipment, complex controls, and a steep learning curve. Yet the younger generation still seems to be intrigued by the art – perhaps inspired by the desire to escape “digital immortality” to experience something imperfect, physical and nostalgic.

This design aims to strike a balance between vintage and modern – it focuses on clarity, approachability, and integration into modern spaces. Essentially, the modern enlarger serves as a compact, minimal form that feels at home in smaller studios, apartments, classrooms or even university accommodation.

Functionally, it simplifies key operations with features like automated film winding and intuitive button movements. This makes it less overwhelming without sacrificing the level of quality and control achieved by traditional enlargers. It retains the soul of analogue printing while offering a cleaner, more intuitive experience for first-time users.

Equipped with a modern LED and LCD screen technology, the enlarger allows for precise contrast adjustments as well as new levels of creative freedom. The LCD screen can be programmed to selectively block certain areas of light on the image allowing to manipulate their prints as if using a real-life analogue version of Photoshop.

By combining usability, reliability, and modern design, this enlarger opens the door for more people to engage with film photography - transforming the process into one that sparks curiosity and inspiration, rather than feeling like a technical challenge.