The 24 hour Universal Design Challenge has begun

 – posted November 6th, 2009 by Cory-Ann Joseph     Comments (2)

Five teams, one winning design concept. The 24 hour design challenge at the Morgan hotel is underway. And our very own John Wood and Conor O’Sullivan are in the running.

After each team received their design challenge, route and sponsor, Julia Cassim from the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre gave the teams a refresher on universal — or inclusive design as she prefers to call it — as well as some advice for the challenge.

Inclusive Design in a nutshell

Inclusive design, Julia explained is not about being boring, creating special gadgets or lacking insight. She then moved onto the good stuff — the competition.

The design challenge

The teams will have different routes around the city and they’ll have to design the best route to get from point A to point B. The teams will have to think about:

  • Obstructions
  • Navigation Patterns
  • Resting Places
  • Contrast between design features and also signage
  • Other sensory means people may use to get around (ie. touch)
  • Wayfinding

“If you’ve not found a design direction by 7 o’clock tonight you’re in trouble.”

Julia encouraged everyone to build multiple scenarios but to make it snappy.

But she wasn’t short on inspiration: Julia shared the winning pitch from a recent 48 hour (!) inclusive design challenge in Seoul that the Helen Hamlyn Centre ran in October. Pitch Perfect outshone the other entries; it was a karaoke experience inspired by a team’s hearing impaired design sponsor.

The teams are starting the challenge over food, and will be heading into the city with their design sponsors after lunch. Stay tuned for the winner. My bets are on team iQ.

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