Talking sense: what stops designers understanding scientists?

Programme

2.15-2.30pm   Welcome from chair:

Sir Stewart Sutherland
Encouraging better communications between researchers, designers and design managers in industry, with a view to improving quality of life and better integrating older and disabled people in everyday life.

2.30-3.45pm   The ageing eye:

Professor Ian Grierson, University of Liverpool
The biology of vision: an overview of the nature and impact of diseases and of normal ageing of the eye, the extent to which these can be corrected, and design-relevant factors, e.g. lighting levels, glare, etc.

Professor Usha Chakravarthy, Queen's University and Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast
The extent and impact of eye disease and impairment: an overview of the distribution of vision impairments among the whole population and across the life-course.

Dr Bob Thompson, President of the Macular Disease Society
A personal account of living with reduced vision: a day in Bob Thompson's life, how he manages everyday activities, illustrated with video and still photography.

Graham Pullin, Designer, international multi-discipliary design company, IDEO
Designing usability into products and interfaces: the experience of a practising industrial designer working for a major design company, what does industry ask of designers, what information do they need, and in what formats.

Discussion:   What stops designers understanding scientists, and vice versa?

3.45pm   Tea and Poster Session

4.15-4.55pm   Case studies of inclusive design

Dr John Gill, Chief Scientist, RNIB
The Tireseas screen font: its development and applications, and related accessibility issues.

Alastair Kingsland, Designer, international multi-discipliary design company, PI Design
The large-button BT phone: developing the product, the market reaction, extending the concept.

4.55 Summary and close from the chair