At the Royal College of Art
Small businesses dominate the care, rehabilitation and disability sectors. The technology and products they develop for this market are high in innovative potential and functionality but often fail to meet the aspirations of their users. Engineered rather than designed, such products occupy a 'special needs' market niche and are costly as a result. Their lack of mainstream design appeal means that they can stigmatise rather than integrate despite the benefits they bring to users.
The aim of the Small Business Programme is to offer a new user-centred design paradigm that will help transform this longstanding status quo so that functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand. In this way, the user's quality of life can be enhanced and innovation through inclusive design becomes a driver for business opportunity.
The Small Business Programme works with small firms of less than 50 employees in London and the south east while its website presence and publications programme extends its geographical reach to all small businesses. The programme aims to help them identify new product and service opportunities relating to social and demographic change.
Through collaborative projects, events and a dissemination programme, the Small Business Programme forges new partnerships with the key players in the care and disability sectors - the design community, manufacturers, service providers, researchers and users themselves.
The programme is advanced through events, presentations and publications backed by a dedicated database of collaborative partners.
The Small Business Programme is funded by the Higher Education Reach-out to Business and the Community Fund of HEFCE.
small business programme
activities
publications
database
DBA challenge