Organised by the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, National Disability Authority (NDA) 26-27 November 2010
The event
A year after Ireland's first 24 Hour Universal Design Challenge in 2009, the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority (NDA) organised the second in a series of what promises to be an annual event.
It was part of The European Design for All e-Accessibility Network (EdeAN) seminar on technology where the five teams presented their design concepts to delegates at the event. EDeAN is a network of 160 organisations in European Union member states established in 2002 whose goal is to raise the profile of Design for All and emphasise its importance in achieving greater e-Accessibility.
Clive Grinyer, Director of Customer Experience in the Advisory service IBSG CISCO was patron and Sean McNulty of the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) was co-ambassador with Damini Kumar, European Union Ambassador for Creativity & Innovation.
The brief
The five teams of architects, software and mechanical designers from across disciplines worked with five design partners with different disabilities. They were asked to take a journey to the Grafton Street area - Dublin's retail core which is scheduled for major redevelopment - and see the area through their design partner's eyes.
The aim was to create a universal design intervention or set of interventions to improve the areas overall inclusivity in visual, spatial, mobility, service or communication terms, so that everyone would benefit. Fortunately, the teams were able to explore the area before Dublin was hit by blizzard conditions the following day.
The results
Service design emerged as the main theme. The judging panel was chaired by Damini Kumar, European Union Ambassador for Creativity & Innovation. The Judge's Prize went to Team A ,led by Royal College or Art graduate Ré Dubhthaigh for Grafton Street Plus a service that enhances customer service in shops that can be tailored to the needs of people with specific disabilities in a discreet and sensitive manner.
The People's Choice award chosen by EdeAN delegates went to Team E, led by Ben Knapp of Queeen's University Belfast for SOLAS - a system of obelisks offering a range of technology based services for Grafton Street visitors.
See 24 Hour Universal Design Challenge, Dublin 2009 and movie here
