Competition
'Universal Design': Designing for the Rest of Us.
While many of us take our physical and mental abilities for granted, others are less fortunate and can suffer from dexterity, visual, auditory and cognitive impairments. By taking into consideration a broader set of user needs at the outset of a project, designers can address these requirements directly while still creating products that are functional and appealing to everyone. Well-known examples might be the Good Grips kitchen utensils range by OXO or the Apple iPhone.
The Brief
Design a product to help those with physical or cognitive impairments that is also appealing to the mass market. Whether your solution is an answer to an existing problem or something entirely new, the focus should be on creating a design that is innovative, functional and universally appealing. Your idea could exist in any number of settings – from the home to the workplace, from entertainment to the sports field.
In support of the Plastics 2020 Challenge from two of our leading sponsors, PlasticsEurope and The British Plastics Federation , sustainability guidelines for reducing, reusing, recycling and recovery will be important as will overall economic and social considerations.
Entries will be judged on the effective use of plastics as well as showing a solid understanding of ergonomic considerations, manufacturing costs, sustainability principles, environmental impact and commercialisation.
INNOVATIVE ~ ERGONOMIC
SUSTAINABLE
~ DESIRABLE ~ INCLUSIVE
The competition is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students registered in the UK for the academic year 2011-12. Please contact your course tutor for more information.