Blog

Introducing: Enabled by Design-er of the month - Denise Walbrugh

2010-02-10T16:20:00Z

Enabled by Design's community is at the very heart of what we're all about and we really couldn't do it without each and every one of you! We're super keen to show our appreciation and what better way of giving our most active members the recognition that they so deserve than by awarding them the prestigious title of 'Enabled by Design-er of the month'. It's a bit like being employee of the month, but so much better (honest!) ; )

To kick things off, we'd like to introduce our very first featured Enabled by Design-er. Drum roll please!!! Her name is Denise Walbrugh (AKA esinedw) and she's had lots to say both on the Enabled by Design website, as well as our facebook group. We asked her a few questions to find out more about her 'Loves', 'Hates' and why she keeps coming back for more...

So who is Denise? (great name by the way! ; )
This is a difficult one to answer... I think I can sum myself up as someone with MS who is looking for better ways or gadgets to make everyday things easier for me to do. Style is very important to me. I spend quite a lot of time on my laptop - too much at times!

What brings you to the Enabled by Design website?
It's a great site for anyone who is looking for stylish assistive equipment, cool gadgets and new ideas. There's nothing else quite like it out there. It's also fun just browsing through the site!

What one item can you not live without?
My funky Switch Stick.

What's your biggest frustration with kit?
It's often really so ugly, usually grey with little or no style.

What's number one on your wish list?
Ban all the grey! Bring in colour and style! Wouldn't that be great?!

Hear, hear Denise!

We'd just like to say a very big THANK YOU for your stellar efforts and for being such a good sport by answering our questions. We're certainly looking forward to hearing lots more from you in the future...

Thanks again!

Team EbD x

"We Are Enabled by Design" event coming soon!

2010-01-27T13:30:00Z

A very belated Happy New Year to you all! We hope that the new decade has been treating you well so far. Here at Enabled by Design HQ we're extremely excited about what the year 2010 has in store. It's already nearing the end of January and I'm sure you've all been wondering where we'd got to. I know we've been a bit on the quiet side recently, but it's been for a very good reason. Inspired by last year's myPublicServices, we've been busy beavering away behind the scenes. Intrigued? Well, let me introduce the newest member of Team EbD who will reveal all. Lilian, take it away...

It has been great to hear that the work we have been doing at Enabled by Design has started to inspire people to think differently about accessibility.

We want to build on all our work together so far by putting together an unconference to refresh and revitalise the disability and ageing debate.

Our aim is to move people away from society's stereotypical generalisation and labeling of disability and ageing to one of acceptance and respect for who people really are. And inject some style and fun into proceedings as well of course!

We believe the world is made up of people who have a range of varying abilities, with each person having their own personal strengths and qualities. We are passionate about harnessing these strengths to empower people to live as independently as possible. Universal design taps into this by focusing on meeting the needs of as many people as possible, to make either a product or service accessible. By mainstreaming accessibility, this can help to remove any stigma attached, while making people's lives that bit easier and in turn more manageable. For us, universal design means accessibility for the masses.

We recognise that we should further develop relationships between product and service designers and users. We want to give people the chance to influence the debate and ensure those who design products, services and technology accept universal design as the norm.

We're currently pondering on calling the event "We are Enabled by Design: making design truly universal" and are looking to hold it in central London in June.

So, we'd LOVE your input! The following themes are important to us and we are thinking of focusing on these on the day:

Design including Product, Urban, Service, etc
Technology
Policy
Employment and Leisure

Those who will be coming along will include people from a large and diverse network including: experts from each of the four themes above, designers, technologists, policy makers, disability/health/age related organisations and charities, health and social care professionals, media (both mainstream and trade) and most importantly users.

How can you contribute? Well, it's easy. We need help with:

support at the venue and event
sponsorship whether it's in kind, gift economy or hard cash
ideas on who you would like to present and topics you may be interested in
offers to speak or run a session
who you would like to see exhibit at the event

If you have any other ideas please do let us know, either in the comments section below, on our facebook page or on twitter.

Watch this space in the coming weeks for more information about the event. Let's together make 2010 the turning point and get serious about the universal design debate.

Volaris S7: The Rollator Road Test

2009-12-16T11:00:00Z

Doesn't time fly by when you're having fun?!? This has definitely been the case for us, here at Enabled by Design HQ. It only seems like five minutes ago that we were on the look out for a budding test-driver extraordinaire, back in June earlier this year. Their challenge, if they wished to accept it, was to take the Volaris S7 rollator out for a spin and really put it through its paces. David Lazell, our knight in shining armour, came forward and the rest, as they say, is history. To find out how David got on, you can watch the video below:

Volaris S7: The Rollator Road Test from Enabled by Design on Vimeo.

David certainly seemed rather taken with the Volaris S7, so much so that he was planning to buy one for himself. You can read more about David's test-driving experience here.

Impressed with what you've seen and heard so far? Fancy taking a Volaris S7 for a test-drive too? If so, let us know here.

Enabled by Design has been super-excited about setting up its very first matchmaking test-drive. We're really passionate about getting the conversation going about "assistive equipment" in general, but just as importantly about those everyday products that can help to make life that little bit easier. We think an important part of this is to get our community testing products, so that they can share their honest feedback on whether products work for them and how they might be improved in the future. Not only does this help other people make an informed decision when buying a particular product, but it will also help to influence future product design and development going forward.

As our community grows, we'd love for Enabled by Design to become almost the "Which?" of the assistive equipment world, with the emphasis being on information provided by people who've actually used the products for themselves. So if you're a business who's looking for feedback on a product or service or you fancy yourself as our next test-driver extraordinaire, please do get in touch.

We'd just like to say a very big THANK YOU to David Lazell (you've been a star!!!), Doability UK and our friends at thinkpublic for making the rollator road test possible! : )

STOP PRESS

DoAbility UK is offering Enabled by Design's community the Volaris S7 rollator at the special offer price of £149 ex. VAT (normal RRP £182 ex. VAT). To claim this offer, simply make sure you're registered on www.enabledbydesign.org then quote the code 'enabledbydesign' when placing your order with DoAbility UK.

Please note: for more information on whether you're eligible for VAT exemption read here.

myPublicServices are us...

2009-12-03T14:51:44Z

At the end of last month I was lucky enough to be part of the first ever myPublicServices, an 'unconference' focusing on citizen engagement with public services online, organised by our friends Patient Opinion.

The day for me was kicked off with a taxi ride through the busy streets of London towards the Abbey Centre, a converted wash house and baths in the heart of Westminster. After a much needed cup of tea and a quick catch up with some familiar faces, it was time to make my way to the main hall to speak as part of the day's opening session.

By this time, the room was already buzzing with expectation and chatter. James Munro from Patient Opinion was the first to speak, describing what the day would involve, as well as sharing his insights into how and why people should be involved in helping to shape public services from the bottom up.

Then it was my turn to talk about how my own experiences and frustrations had led me to feel that my needs were not being met and my decision to do something about it. For more on what I was speaking about, you can check out the slides from my talk below:

Enabled by Design: turning frustration into action

View more presentations from enabledbydesign.

Following on from me was Channel 4's Tom Loosemore, who spoke about his work with the 4iP (4 Innovation for the Public) fund and the importance of the 'my' in myPublicServices. Novelty brownie points go to Tom for coming with the notes for his speech scrawled on a napkin, who needs PowerPoint?!? ; )

All this food for thought was making us hungry! Over tea, coffee and some tasty cake (kindly baked by some of the attendees), there was definitely a lot to talk about!

The second part of the day was less structured with people breaking out into various sessions run in parallel, based on the six themes: voice, place, design, vision, experience and support. I ran a session with Carrie Bishop, one of the original Enabled by Design team members at the first ever Social Innovation (SI) Camp. In this group we talked about SI Camp, what it involved, what we learned and those all important next steps. Interested in finding out more? If so, you can check out the slides from the session here:

The Social Innovation Camp story: the who, what, where, when & how

View more presentations from enabledbydesign.

Always a sign of a good day, before we knew it, it was time for things to come to a close. During the closing session, Dan McQuillan talked about the importance of the day and where we go from here. Paul Hodgkin, Chief Executive of Patient Opinion, then invited us to write one thing on a postcard that is an important challenge for ourselves and what we would do to overcome it. These will be photographed and shared at a later date, so we'll let you know when these become available to view. And lastly but no means least, James Munro drew the day to a close, phew not bad for a days work eh?!? The BBC certainly thought so too, giving the event the media coverage that it so deserved on their website!

For me, the day was a fantastic showcase of how people are harnessing the power of the internet to build on the government's current service provision. I don't see this as a case of trying to replace public services outright, but of enhancing them in a way that can only be achieved from the outside in. If news headlines are anything to go by, as a country we're going to be more and more reliant on social enterprise to fill the shortfalls in public spending. Of course, this leads to the natural question; how can we finance this sustainably? The world of myPublicServices is still in its early stages, so it's likely to take some time to refine the business model that will do the job. But don't worry, we're all working on it!

We'd just like to say a very big THANK YOU to the Patient Opinion team for all the enthusiasm and hard work they put into organising such an interesting and thought provoking event. Roll on next year, we say! ; )

Assistive Technology: form, function and emotional response

2009-11-19T15:11:28Z

Yesterday I was invited to speak at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) at an event organised by ATcare to discuss the complex subject of Assistive Technology (AT).

Speaking to a packed room of people from design, industry, health and social care, it was my job to talk about my experiences of using AT, how it is perceived and how it could be changed for the better.

You can find out more from my presentation below:

Assistive Technology: form, function and emotional response

View more presentations from enabledbydesign.

Having done my bit, I was happy to take my seat and listen to the other speakers covering topics such as market research, inclusive design and behavioural economics. This was followed by a lively panel discussion chaired by the RCA's (Royal College of Art) Jeremy Myerson and workshop session.

Interestingly there was a real consensus that the language used, to describe products that support independent living, really does need to change. Many agreeing that the term Assistive Technology is useful for people working in the field, but not necessarily to the general public.

I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on Assistive Technology, both in terms of the language used and how it could be improved, as well as the presentation. Thanks!

Who wants to be on the telly?

2009-11-16T14:04:03Z

I've recently been contacted by Glasshead, a television production company, who are filming a Design and Technology series for the BBC aimed at primary school students. The series will focus on different aspects of design, with one programme dedicated to exploring the design and testing of assistive products used by people with disabilities, to support independent living.

If you have a disability and would be interested in discussing (on camera) how you use assistive equipment to make your day-to-day tasks more manageable, they'd love to hear from you! They're ideally looking for people based in or around London or Birmingham, who are happy to be filmed in their own homes and will be available within the next month.

For more information, you can contact Tim Froggatt by email or phone 020 8742 6817.

Beautility is in the eye of the beholder...

2009-11-05T16:05:33Z

Yesterday saw Enabled by Design and fourteen other innovative projects marking the one year anniversary of being on the Next Practice Programme, at an event hosted by the Innovation Exchange. The day was set up with the aim of each project sharing their progress and learning over the past year, but it also gave me the chance to catch up with my co-founder, Dominic Campbell.

During a much needed tea break, while munching on my carrot cake, Dom introduced me to a new word that he'd come across recently and thought would be just my cup of tea. Oops, sorry no pun intended! : )

Beauty + Utility = Beautility

The word was Beautility and is a mash-up of the words beauty and utility. Dom had read a blog post by Tucker Viemeister called 'Designing for Beautility: Where Beauty Meets Utility' in which he explained:

"I have coined this word Beautility because I want people to realize that even in our mercenary world, beauty is not just about flower displays. Beautility is a new way of framing beauty, as something that serves a function, that elevates it to the bottom line. When things have a name and people can point at it, then it will be easier for them to appreciate the value. Designers are key drivers in the beauty business. The design profession's job is to create Beautility!"

This word is extremely relevant to what the Enabled by Design community stands for. Some people assume that Enabled by Design is solely interested in making assistive equipment look good, which is one very important part of the jigsaw puzzle. However, an equally if not more important factor is whether a particular product is functional and does the job well. It's all very well having a bit of kit that looks pretty, but if it's not fit for purpose or fiddly to use, it's more likely to end up in the cupboard under the stairs than be used for its intended purpose : S

We'd love to hear your examples of Beautility in action! Or, if there are any products out there that could do with a bit of a Beautility treatment ; )

Let us know by adding a comment below, on our facebook page or if you prefer you can tweet us here.

Team EbD x

Trading places: DisabledGear.com

2009-10-29T11:59:40Z

A recent post on www.enabledbydesign.org looking for a secondhand theracycle reminded me of a blog post I've been meaning to write for quite some time...

Earlier this year at Naidex 2009, I met Guy Harris who was developing the idea of a website to buy and sell secondhand assistive equipment such as mobility scooters, wheelchairs and the like. Six months later, at last month's Rehacare in Dusseldorf, I heard someone calling my name, much to my surprise! It was Guy and he had lots of news to share about his website www.disabledgear.com, which has now launched and is quickly gathering momentum.

Guy felt that there was a very real need for affordable kit and a place for people to buy it, as well as sell assistive equipment that is no longer needed or used. The result is DisabledGear.com. Although the site is mainly dedicated to buying and selling secondhand items, there are plans in the pipeline to further develop the range of new products on offer too...

Having had a good look around the website, I wasn't able to find a specific area to post/add wanted items (sorry blakesma), but perhaps you could submit an advert clearly marked WANTED. Would this work for you Guy?

DisabledGear.com is a much needed marketplace for secondhand assistive equipment, so go and check it out for yourself!

"Three ways good design makes you happy..."

2009-10-07T12:25:39Z

Having stumbled across this rather lovely TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) talk from design critic, Don Norman, I just had to share it in the hope that other people would enjoy it as much as I did.

Don Norman's talk is disarmingly friendly and I love his ability to tell stories to demonstrate the three levels that we perceive an experience:

Visceral - intuition/feelings (subconscious)
Behavioural - the actual doing (subconscious)
Reflective - thoughtfulness (conscious)

Would love to hear your thoughts. Enjoy! : )

Bugaboo: buggies and beyond

2009-09-24T13:43:11Z

Late Sunday afternoon I'd settled down on the sofa, cup of tea in hand, to read the Sunday papers when I stumbled across an interesting article in the Observer about the future plans of pram/pushchair manufacturer Bugaboo.

I have to admit I knew very little about the company, apart from the fact that they made the pushchair of choice of many a celebrity, including the likes of Gwen Stefani and Gwyneth Paltrow. But it was the talk of branching out into the design of mobility kit that made my ears prick up with interest...

This year Bugaboo celebrates its 10 year anniversary and this very milestone seems to have got its team thinking. Not satisfied with being responsible for designing the 4X4 of pushchairs, they now want to try their hand at designing a wider range of products based on the theme of "mobility for life" including not only their staple of prams/pushchairs but also the new additions of walking frames, bicycles and bags.

So what can Bugaboo bring to the mobility product market, I hear you ask? Well, to start with I would say that their previous form should hold them in good stead. They already have a proven track record when it comes to pram/pushchair design and many of their features would transfer quite nicely to other mobility products such as walking frames, wheelchairs and mobility scooters:

tough/durable
adjustable
good suspension
multifunctional
customisable
multi-terrain
good aesthetics
variety of choice
value for money

The last point may be a bone of contention for some people, as Bugaboo pushchairs don't come cheap. However, founder Max Barenburg is quick to point out that "the product is worth it, you get value for money". Bugaboo products are most definitely an investment, but as long as they deliver on what they promise I'm sure that most people will not be disappointed.

Another reason for my interest in Bugaboo is their openness to listen to what their customers actually want, a trait that is very close to our hearts here at Enabled by Design. Doing this has led to a number of design developments to their prams, including improved suspension, a smaller, more lightweight version and a change in the tread of the tyres due to the rather messy issue of dog poo (yuck!).

A quick google search (yes, sad I know!) on the Bugaboo brand revealed that earlier this year Bugaboo collaborated with Paul Frank Industries to launch a collection of Bugaboo Cameleon prams/pushchairs covered in fabrics featuring signature Paul Frank characters (see below). Surely this must be a sign that Bugaboo is a fun and playful brand, just what the mobility product world needs I say! Who's with me?

So it's most definitely a case of watch this space and Bugaboo if you happen to be out there listening, the Enabled by Design community would love to get involved in your product development, so please do give us a shout! ; )

PS. By complete coincidence (really! perhaps she read the Observer article too?) a member of our community (KatieKate) inspired by pram accessories has recently added a post to our Ideas Factory looking for ideas to design a 'boogie board' for wheelchairs so her friends can hitch a ride. Check it out and add your comments/ideas here.

Team EbD x

London to Paris in one bike ride...

2009-09-16T12:42:14Z

There are 700,000 people living with dementia in the UK with numbers set to rise to one million by 2025. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 417,000 people in the UK.

Today, our friend Ben from ATcare has set off on the unenviable task of cycling the 480km from London to Paris in aid of raising funds for the Alzheimer's Society. Not satisfied with taking the challenge of the London to Brighton bike ride (pah that's for wimps he cries-only kidding! ; ) Ben has gone one step further (well, 393km to be precise! : )

Ben's epic bike ride will see him cycling through the Kent countryside, taking the Dover to Calais ferry and once in France, continuing through the small villages and medieval market towns of the North, passing the famous battlefields of the Somme and Agincourt and finally pedaling through the busy streets of Paris heading towards the finish line.

Through his work with ATcare, Ben is part of a team working to develop a number of products to support people living with dementia. But this is not the only reason for him wanting to do his bit to raise awareness and funds. Ben has had personal experience of the wide reaching effects of dementia when a close family member was diagnosed and is keen to support the Alzheimer's Society and its indispensable work.

Jo Swinhoe, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at the Alzheimer's Society says:

'We are absolutely delighted that Ben will be taking part in the London to Paris bike ride. As a charity, we rely on the generosity of the public to provide essential support, care and advice to people with dementia and their carers. Dementia is more than just memory loss; it robs people of their lives. The funds we receive will make a huge difference to individuals who are affected by this devastating disease.'

Having spent the summer following a strict training regime of countryside bike rides and (ahem!) pub lunches, Ben has had his Weetabix and set off early this morning from Blackheath. He will spend the next four days pedaling his little legs as fast as they can to reach his goal, the iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower. You can follow Ben's progress through his phlog here:

Ben is hoping to raise over £1000 by cycling from London to Paris from 16 - 20 September 2009. If you'd like to sponsor Ben, click here.

Bonne chance (good luck) Ben, we'll be rooting for you! : )

Team EbD x

The word of the day is...

2009-07-29T21:02:26Z

FERRULE

Ferrule (noun - pronounced ferrool) - according to the Oxford English Dictionary and for those of you who are not already in the know, is a ring or cap which strengthens the end of a handle, stick, or tube.

On this occasion, we're talking about ferrules used on the base of walking sticks and crutches to provide some degree of shock absorbency and protection, as well as helping to reduce the risk of slippage (oh how I love that word! : )

These pretty obscure looking objects (shown on the left) are standard grey, NHS issue ferrules, as used for crutches, walking sticks and Zimmer frames.

So why the sudden obsession with ferrules, I hear you ask? Well, our friends at ATcare are all set to embark on a series of focus groups to test-drive a newfangled ferrule product, to see how it fares compared to standard ferrules.

I'm keen to take part in the focus group for crutches, as I'm intrigued to find out whether a ferrule alone can really make a difference to me in terms of comfort and safety.

I've been using crutches for the past three years now and was extremely frustrated by the fact that my old NHS crutches clicked and were about as comfortable as attempting the London Marathon in a deep sea diving suit. So, that said, I can't think of a better test than to take my old crutches along and see whether using a different type of ferrule will make any difference.

Rest assured I'll let you know how I get on, but in the meantime if you're interested in getting involved too, read on...

Walking stick focus group: 13th August

Crutches focus group: 20th August

Do you use a walking stick or crutches?
Have you been using them for at least a few months?
Is your use likely to be ongoing?
Can you make the relevant date above?
Are you able to travel to East London?

If the answer to all of the above questions is yes and you would like to find out more, give us a shout or you can make direct contact with Ben from ATcare here.

Team EbD x

PS. ATcare has passed on the following info:

Each focus group will last for two hours, followed by a week's home trial of the product. After this time, you are free to keep hold of the product for your own use. Expenses, lunch and refreshments will be provided, as well as a small token payment to say thank you for your time.

Shopping Trolley Chic?!?

2009-07-21T19:56:41Z

I can't help but notice that the common or garden shopping trolley has undergone a bit of a renaissance in recent years. Gone are the days of the rather sensible, uninspiring plaid model that can often be seen on just about every high street in Britain. Oh, that's so last season sweetie! ; )

Shopping trolleys have gradually become a fashion statement, as seen modeled by many an edgy Hoxtonite. Now available in every print and colour you could possibly imagine, from polka dots to stripes, animal print to floral, retro to psychedelic. You name it, we've seen it! You can even get shopping trolleys that tackle steps, curbs and stairs with the minimum of effort (see below).

So why bother using a shopping trolley, I hear you ask. Despite their bad press, they really are a useful shopping companion, saving you from carrying heavy items as well as using unnecessary plastic bags. By using one you can give yourself some extra brownie points for not only looking after your health, but helping to save the planet too!

Go on, treat yourself to a shopping trolley. You never know, you might just like it!

We'd love to hear about your own shopping trolley chic. If you have photos, even better! Just add a comment below or send us your photos here.

Team EbD x

Hub-ble, bubble, toil and big ideas...

2009-07-15T16:25:41Z

Earlier this week, on Tuesday to be precise, the Enabled by Design crew met at the rather beautiful listed building that is the Hub, Kings Cross to discuss what we've been up to so far as well as where we want to go from here. We were lucky enough to also be joined by a very special guest - Claudia who is a member of our community and kindly replied to our recent blog post.

You can check out a photo of Claudia with the rather smiley Enabled by Design team (from left to right: Claudia, Kalv, Carrie, Andy, Lucy and Alice-just seen) here.

Unfortunately or maybe not so (I've never thought myself that photogenic), Dom didn't manage to fit Alice or me into the shot. Sorry Alice! Just a quick word of advice Dom, don't give up the day job just yet ; )

Having got the introductions out of the way, it was time to get on with the serious business of discussing how we'd like to develop our website further and the plan of action for the year ahead. So enthralled in the discussion were we, that we very nearly forgot the all important matter of tea and cake. Oops! : S

Lucy, being the domestic goddess that she is, baked her Auntie Joanie's not-so-secret brownie recipe and brought them along to the meeting for us to nibble. Yum yum! In my book they were the perfect accompaniment to a good old fashioned cup of Rosy Lee. So thank you Lucy and of course big thanks to Auntie Joanie too!

Time flew by and before long Claudia had to head off home : ( It was truly great to have her on board and find out what she thinks about Enabled by Design and what we're up to. To show her our thanks, we gave her a wee pressie - an OXO Good Grips Y-peeler (one of my all time favourite gadgets!) as well as an EbD pencil button - soon to be the 'Blue Peter Badge' of the world of assistive equipment I'm sure! ; )

Thanks again Claudia, it was lovely to meet you and hear your thoughts. Make sure you keep in touch with us and we look forward to seeing you back on the site soon!

It's still not too late to tell us what you think about Enabled by Design. We're always open to your feedback and we'd love to hear how you think we could improve/change things for the better. If you have a quick comment that you'd like to share with us or even an essay for that matter, please do let us know. You can either tell us what you think by adding a comment to this blog post, clicking on the site feedback link at the bottom of each page or tweeting us. We don't mind how you contact us, just as long as you do! (Carrier pigeons, semaphore, smoke signals or any other inventive methods of communication are equally welcome ; )

Team EbD x

It's still good to talk etc...

2009-07-09T15:29:53Z

Hello everybody!

Well the weather may have changed a lot since our last blog post, but there's no way that our feedback meetup on Tuesday (14th July) is going to be rained off next week! Even if it does mean me donning my favourite pair of red wellies...

So just a quick note to remind everyone that we'd really love to hear what you think about what we've been up to so far.

You can either tell us your thoughts by commenting on this blog post, clicking on the site feedback link at the bottom of each page, tweeting us or if you're feeling particularly adventurous why not come and have a cup of tea and a natter with us? Basically a feedback session with nice biccies and more fun ; ) If so, you'll need to be free at 2-5pm on Tuesday 14th July and able to get to central London. If you are planning to come along, all we ask is that you let us know in advance as we have limited space available to us and we'd really hate to have to turn anyone away : )

Time's running out, so give us a shout!

Team EbD x