Matthew Clark

University of Nottingham > Engineering > Departments > Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering > PDM Exhibitions > 2025 > MEng students > Matthew Clark

Ionic is a 40V battery-powered leaf blower designed to address key issues with existing models, particularly the weight, ergonomics and usability.

Hi, my name is Matt, and I am soon to be a Product Design and Manufacturing Masters graduate student from the University of Nottingham. My interest in how things are designed and created began when I was little, with a passion for understanding mechanisms and a love for illustrating them into drawings. The combination of engineering principles and design work to create new and innovative design solutions is what led me to choosing PDM. Alongside the course I enjoy playing sports, especially football and badminton.

I have always thoroughly enjoyed sketching, and this has helped me throughout my time here to develop my style, building on the way I perceive the world around me. Since joining the course, I have enjoyed pushing myself to effectively build my sketches into reality using both CAD and 3D printing to enhance my design process. Within the areas of product design, I have become particularly interested and appreciative of the ergonomic aspects of design. Creating well-fit and functional designs has been very rewarding to me and I’m keen to develop these skills into the future. Additionally, prototyping has allowed me to explore these areas of the design more deeply and has become one of my favourite aspects of the process.

After my 4 years studying Product Design, I am eager to begin my career in the industry to continue my passion for design and build the next steps of development. I am looking for a position which offers the chance to work on multiple aspects of the design process with a focus on prototyping.

Matthew Clark, MEng Product Design and Manufacture

IONIC - Electrical Hand-Held Leaf Blower

Ionic is a 40V battery-powered leaf blower designed to address key issues with existing models, particularly the weight, ergonomics and usability.

As a gardener I regularly used petrol-powered models, which were powerful and effective, but also loud, heavy, and awkward. After prolonged use fatigue would set in, causing me to switch hands to accommodate. This meant the side facing air intake was now against my leg and pulling my trousers into the blower. Not very user-friendly, especially for left-handed users.

This personal experience inspired my research into electric-powered leaf blowers, which are quieter and more suitable for rear-facing air intakes, making an ambidextrous design much more viable. However, the weight issue remains as more powerful models require a bigger and bulkier battery.

To solve this, I focused on redistributing the weight of the battery away from the user’s hands. The strategy I ultimately adopted was a battery unit attached to a wearable sling as it reduced the weight of the handheld system by 40% while maintaining the same performance. The sling design effectively balances the time it takes to secure the battery, and the support provided for long wear. For shorter tasks, it is easy for users to slip on and off, whilst the shoulder pads and redistributed weight offers additional comfort for long-term use. The battery connects to the leaf blower via a flexible and lockable cable, ensuring that the user retains full freedom of movement.

Ionic is a balance of ergonomics, power and aesthetics. Designed for small to medium gardens with a focus on user-centred design, along with a unique form and style.