The brief for the sixth and final DesignAge College-wide competition was to design an object, image, system or environment that takes into account the lifestyle, needs and aspirations of older people.

The competition is open to all second-year students at the Royal College of Art. 22 entries from 4 different courses were judged by Robin Levien (Queensberry Hunt Levien), Marco Susani (Domus Academy, Milan), Marion Bieber (University of the Third Age) and Jeremy Myerson (Helen Hamlyn Research Centre). Prize money totalled £2,500 and was shared between 6 winners.

Lotta Vaananen of Design Products won the £1,000 first prize with Rise and Shine, a light for people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Lotta's appointment as a Helen Hamlyn Research Associate, enabling her to spend an extra year at the College, sets a pattern where Competition winners become candidates for a Helen Hamlyn Research Associateship.

Second prize of £500 went to Jonas Hallberg Eggen (Design Products) for his mobile refrigerator, Domestic Coolth. Third prize winner was Richard Palmer (Industrial Design Engineering) for his cafe table designed to encourage social interaction. Martin Broomfield not only won a DesignAge prize but also scooped the Snowdon Award for Disability Projects, which was presented at the same ceremony on 1 July, with his user friendly Pull the Plug concept. Prizes were also won by Hilary Primett (Ceramics and Glass) for her Massage Wash Mat that is a rubber mat covered in 'fingers' that massage the user, and Alexandra Martini (Design Products) for her Flat Jack - a Folding Stool designed to be attractive, highly efficient and easy to carry. Highly Commended was Dan Plant (Industrial Design Engineering)

> 1998 competition