A designer who is hoping to cultivate a more water-safe community.
Lewis’s appreciation for the unpredictability of water came his way on one of his first lifeguard duties at the age of 16. He was in Bantham, a village on the south Devon coast of England, when a swell rose faster than anyone on the beach could anticipate, leading to a mass rescue mission that made the local newspapers. This adrenalin-filled experience was just the beginning of his lifeguard lifestyle.
After patrolling several Devonshire beaches for a few years and experiencing some near-death situations where all his skills were put to the test to ensure a positive outcome, Lewis used his valued skills to help fund his travels around the world. He particularly enjoyed working in Australia’s surf life-saving industry, describing it as more of a “community experience”.
Once back home, in 2013, he pursued a four-year degree in industrial design in Bournemouth, which set him up perfectly for a career that aligned with his passions – water sports and safety.
By now, Lewis’s dedication to saving lives was embedded in his core; in his final year dissertation, he designed a prototype to help prevent the drowning of children from flash floods while they travel to and from school in areas like Bangladesh. UNICEF reported in 2022 that, “Each year, over 14,000 children in Bangladesh die due to drowning.” Lewis created an ingenious concept based around a school bag for children that would act like a life jacket and swim aid (he cannot say more due to a non-disclosure agreement). The design has since been passed on to an organisation that continues to develop its potential to help save thousands of people from drowning worldwide.
After graduating, Lewis was re-employed by RED, the company that offered him a year’s placement while he was in his third year at university. He went on to become a senior designer, where he oversaw the production of the company’s products in China.
RED’s concept was created by a former windsurfing champion, John Hibbard, who, while injured and unable to access the water, dreamed of a way that everyone, whether sporty or not, could access water. In Hawaii, he first saw the use of SUP boards, something that would allow this wish to come to fruition. His mission was to introduce these in an inflatable and sustainable format to the UK market. RED is one of the first companies to design and market inflatable SUPs in the UK and Lewis was involved in every stage of the process since 2015.
After Covid, Lewis settled in Portugal, working remotely for RED. His main aim now is to collaborate with local businesses and individuals to bring water safety awareness to children and families in the Algarve and throughout Portugal. He is passionate about what he does. “My goal is to support a thriving and safe water sports community in the Algarve, welcoming people of all ages to enjoy our remarkable waterways confidently. My focus is on designing innovative solutions to make water sports safer and more accessible for everyone.”
Lewis believes better water safety education is needed here in the Algarve, adding, “Teaching water safety to children creates a ripple effect as young paddlers, in my experience, pass on this knowledge to parents, guardians, friends and the wider community, building a more informed and cautious environment around water activities.” One of RED’s recent innovations, the 8’10” Junior Prone inflatable board, is designed specifically for youth paddlers, providing them with an easy-to-carry paddle board with which to safely build water skills. It is ideal for families and youth organisations alike.
RED’s designs and products are already being adopted by Algarve’s thriving water sports companies like Nowhere2far and Blue Xperiences. Their accessories are also being stocked by outlets in Aljezur.
Lewis is eager to collaborate with individuals, clubs and companies who share a passion for water-based activities and may have ideas or challenges to explore together. This could be a great opportunity for organisations to work together to start building a community of water safety awareness in Portugal. Please contact Lewis if you are interested in collaborating with RED to see how you can grow this and other ideas together.
Whatsapp: +447925901083
