The Drafting Instrument, Lionel Giordano drawing tool, Big Idea Challenge Competition

The Drafting Instrument: TDI

24 June 2020

The Drafting Instrument – TDI News

Sustainable drawing tool sees Lionel Giordano win entrepreneur competition

Architectural Assistant Lionel Giordano has won the Creative category in The Big Idea Challenge, an entrepreneurial competition looking for the businesses, social enterprises and creative projects that will have a big impact in the future. He completed his RIBA 2 in 2019.

Lionel Giordano:

He has been developing his idea, The Drafting Instrument (TDI), in his spare time while working in the architecture industry. Designed for Architects and creatives, TDI is a reusable drawing tool comprising two parts – a highly ergonomic body made from recycled metals or concrete and interchangeable / refillable inserts which can be used for both technical and non-technical drawing. Lionel Giordano was motivated to create TDI due to frustrations related to cost, inconvenience of carrying (various) drawing/ writing tools and what he calls the “embarrassing detrimental” impact they have on the environment.

Lionel Giordano said: “I have tested the ergonomic aspect of TDI through several dummy and working prototypes, and I am glad to say that I have finalised the conceptual stage. I am now in the process of developing a fully working prototype. The journey like all idea development processes has been very exciting, I never looked at the marketing side of things and the whole experience has been a massive learning curve that gave me good insight on how to go about developing an idea.

Asked how it felt to be recognised by the Big Idea Challenge, he said: “The amazing feeling of winning the Big Idea Challenge creative category made all the hard work worthwhile. I wanted to do this for a long time. Entering the Big Idea Challenge, helped me focus and invest time efficiently into developing my idea.

“My advice to other entrepreneurs would be to not be too precious about your idea. Be open to suggestions, as your idea is more likely to be successful if you take peoples feedback and opinions into account.”

”Run by Accelerator, London Met’s business incubator, the Big Idea Challenge gives winners in eight categories the tools to develop their business, and a shared prize pool of £30,000 to launch their winning idea. Previous winners have gone on to launch businesses which have created hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds profit.

Giordano has won mentoring and support from the Accelerator and will be able to use the leading facilities at the Hoxton-based incubator.

The Challenge winners were announced at a digital ceremony on Thursday 18 June 2020.

About London Metropolitan University

London Metropolitan University has been providing education to people from all backgrounds since 1848, with the creation of the Metropolitan Evening Classes for Working Men. Six schools teach cutting-edge, relevant courses across the arts, sciences, business, law and humanities. Accelerator – London Met’s specialist business incubator – helps graduates get their enterprises up and running and was named among the Top Five ‘Most Active’ accelerators in Europe in 2015, highlighting its contribution to London’ booming start-up industry.
londonmet.ac.uk/news

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