Inclusive Worlds: Details of the Challenges for Student Designers

The RSA is encouraging multidisciplinary team entries for its new-look student design awards. The Society specifies that ideally teams would be a combination of design and relevant areas such as sociology, physiotherapy, medicine, nursing, ergonomics, human factors, or computing. However, given the ambitions of this vision, there is some leeway: 'We realise the inherent difficulties of this option so individual entries are welcome but consultations with representatives of other disciplines must be made and documented,' say the organisers. 'Users are central to the project solution and must be involved, ideally throughout the process and from the early research stages.'

As reported in July, the RSA is presiding over a brand new set of student awards for its 250th anniversary in 2004 (see UN story: RSA launches New Approach to Encouraging Inclusive Design). Full details are now available on a new website (see below), including an invitation to the tutor briefing session that will introduce the projects more fully and provide ideas. This is scheduled for 9th October.

The Inclusive Worlds award is being presented as a series of challenges. Participants are encouraged to select one and submit designs which have taken into account the greatest number of potential users. The challenges are listed below:

* How can we make domestic and public environments more inclusive?
There are many reasons why people find public places a problem, or even feel intimidated by them. Often it is something as simple as a need for good signage, public seating in appropriate places or automatic doors to help people carrying heavy bags or pushing prams. Sometimes the problems are more complex and subtle – a lack of appropriate lighting or shiny floors can cause disorientation. In some environments intellectual access is as important as physical access e.g.accessible language and visual clarity. For this challenge you can consider any kind of public space or domestic environment – hospitals, schools, doctors’ surgeries, parks, public gardens, visitor attractions, museums, galleries, clubs, restaurants, houses, sheltered accommodation.

For example, your submission might propose:
– Concepts for wayfinding systems or access, physical or intellectual, to domestic or public environments.
– Scenarios of how smart and assistive technologies can ‘future proof’ homes or improve accessibility or enjoyment of public spaces

* How can access to information limit exclusion?
Modern technology offers many benefits, but far too many people are excluded from these by interfaces that do not cater for their needs and capabilities. The challenge is to demonstrate how these can be designed to accommodate those normally excluded, and provide greater access to mainstream environments and services, so as to increase their independence and autonomy.

For example, your submission might propose:
– Designs for improved public telephones, ATMs, ticket machines, information points, etc., or for displays in museums and other public buildings.
– Personal products that help people with memory loss or those working under pressure.

* How can smart wearables change lives?
As textiles become more clever and responsive, and products and environments become smarter through the integration of new technologies, there is an exciting opportunity to develop wearable products that can change people’s lives in remarkable ways. How can such developments benefit older people and young disabled people and give us all greater control over our health and wellbeing?

For example, your submission might propose:
– Wearables with embedded technology for mainstream and special needs markets.
– Products which harness advances in textiles.

* How can products make life more fun? Products that are intuitive to use or that stimulate our senses in a pleasurable way add to our quality of life. There are many you could look at, from shopping and leisure pursuits, to work environments or travel.

For example, your submission might propose:
– A sensual shower or bathing environment.
– Multisensory environments and products.

* How can we make things better?
People are living longer, work patterns are changing under the impact of new technologies, and disabled people are demanding integration in mainstream society. Rapid social and technological change gives us the opportunity to rethink products and services that are not responsive to people’s real needs and capabilities. The challenge is to redesign an existing product or service in response to identified user needs in ways that make it more inclusive and accessible.
For example, your submission might propose:
– Before and after scenarios of how your design improves on existing products/interfaces or offers new possibilities in terms of function or usability
– Storyboards showing how your design will be pleasurable to use, own, wear or interact with, and how it will enhance the user’s quality of life.

Details of how to enter are also available on the website below. UN will be following the progress of the awards over the rest of their first year.

Associated Link: The new RSA Design site

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