Laurie Norfolk with Aida
Small Business Programme
Mobility Roadshow
12-14 June 2003, Donington Park, Derby
Visitors to the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre stand at the 2001 Mobility Roadshow came up with the following challenges for designers - an anti-tip, anti-spill mug for hot drinks, a portable stool that could be stored on a scooter and a modular clothing collection for wheelchair users.
Two years on, two of those wishes have been granted and the prototypes were on show this year - SiebertHead's simple vacuum cup with sculptural styling and discreet but functional spout and the stylish 'smart wearables' range developed by Pearlfisher for young disabled people using a temperature regulating micro-pile fabric. Both products were developed for the DBA Design Challenge, organised by the Small Business Programme.
Also on display were RCA student projects in the Design for our Future Selves award scheme and projects developed by Helen Hamlyn Research Associates. These included Ben Wilson's Tilting Trike. The trike can be quickly reconfigured for hand or foot controls and was admired by Prince Philip who visited the stand.
a visitor with Matt White's
Sandbug
He was impressed too by the inclusive power tools resulting from Matthew White's year-long collaboration with B&Q. The tools are now selling on B&Q's shelves. Research Associate Barnaby Barford described to Prince Philip the inclusive bath he is developing with ESL Industries.
Another distinguished visitor to the stand was Lord Snowdon, Provost of the Royal College of Art. He admired the landscaped tableware designed by Lisa Dionne Morris for people with impaired grip for the Design for our Future Selves Competition 2000. Her initial prototype won the Snowdon prize for Disability that year and she has gone on to develop a comprehensive range of tableware and glassware that is now in production.
Since 2002, Mobility Choice, organisers of the Mobility Roadshow have awarded prizes in two categories of the same competition. This year, RCA student Laurence Norfolk won the Snowdon Award for Aida. This walking aid/scooter is a direct result of his visit to the Mobility Roadshow two years ago. He was on hand to demonstrate it to the many visitors who dropped into the stand to ask for design advice from HHRC staff and students researching user issues for future projects.
Those unable to visit the show this year can submit their ideas to Julia Cassim for the kind of inclusively designed products and services they want to see.