Themes: Inclusive Design
Student in Global Disability Innovation Hub’s MSc in Disability, Design and Innovation wins RSA Student Design Award
Kate Mattick, an Disability, Design and Innovation MSc student has won the RSA Student Design Award on the ‘Healthy Routes’ category sponsored by UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing. Her individual inclusive design project work was selected out of 782 entries from 14 different universities. The RSA Student Design Awards is the world’s longest-running student design competition.
Kate Mattick is part of the first cohort of the MSc in Disability, Design and Innovation, a unique multidisciplinary course developing the next generation of pioneers in the rapidly expanding field of Disability Innovation. The first of its kind in the world, the MSc programme is taught across three top London institutions; UCL, Loughborough University London and the London College of Fashion.
The winning proposal ‘Chat-e-Cycle’ is a rural community scheme, encouraging local residents to unite on a side-by side electric tandem. It offers a means of transport, social connection, exercise and adventures for older people. It aims to address issues related to loneliness, lack of reliable transport and loss of independence.
The awards ceremony will take place on the 30th of July.
Kate Mattick, Msc Disability, Design and Innovation student and winner of the RSA Student Design award said:
Winning this RSA student design award was completely unexpected and a realisation that everyone has the potential to be involved in design. I came on to the MSc in Disability, Design and Innovation from my physiotherapy background, interest in global health and disability and development. Through learning and working collaboratively with others from different disciplines I have come to realise just how much design influences and impacts people’s lives. The design thinking approach to problem-solving is something I will no doubt apply in my future career.
Iain McKinnon, lecturer at UCL and GDI Hub Director said:
Technology has the potential to change lives, no more so than in the emerging area of disability innovation. Kate’s work is a reflection of the principles at the heart of our MSc Disability, Design and Innovation. We are very proud of her work and look forward to encouraging our new students to follow in her footsteps.
About the RSA Student Design Awards
The RSA Student Design Awards is an annual competition for higher education students and recent graduates run by the RSA. Each year, the RSA challenges emerging designers to engage with a range of design briefs centred on social and environmental impact.
This year’s briefs tackled a range of issues; from services for displaced people, active travel for the ageing population and economic security, to reimagining community spaces through food. Winners are rewarded with cash prizes, and a range of other benefits to kick-start their careers.
The RSA Student Design Awards have helped identify talented early-career designers that have had a huge impact in the world, with over 100,000 students entering the competition since it began in 1924.
Previous winners include:
- Sir Jonathan Ive, Former Chief Design Officer of Apple;
- Kate Dundas, Director, City Strategy, City of Melbourne;
- Richard Clarke, Former Head of Innovation at Nike; and
- Bill Moggridge, Co-founder of IDEO and designer of the first laptop.
This year judges included:
- Paul Gardien, Head of Design Strategy & Innovation at Philips Design;
- Ellie Stathaki, Architecture Editor at Wallpaper Magazine;
- Frank Anatole, Principal Architect at Network Rail; and
- Victoria Lee, Lead Programme Manager, Architecture and the Built Environment at the Design Council.
This year, panels were curated to incorporate a range of industry professionals and those with lived experience related to topics found in this year’s briefs.
For more information please contact: SDAenquiries@RSA.org.uk
How to apply to the MSc
The Disability, Design and Innovation MSc based at UCL is currently accepting applications for the 2020/21 academic year.
For more information visit UCL prospectus to apply now for September 2020.
