About the Universal Design Challenge 2011

Universal Design Challenge 2011 Awards

The Universal Design Challenge 2011 was a two day competition for design teams working to a design brief to present a new Universal Design idea. The theme for 2011 was Universal Design for Everyday Consumer Products. The immersive challenge format embeds Universal Design as a memorable design experience.

Five teams of 3rd level design students and recent graduates from across Ireland were mentored by experienced designers as they compete to win awards and prizes. Design users with diverse abilities and disabilities participate as consumer advisors with the design teams to ensure usability and accessibility of the designs.

The Universal Design Challenge Awards Programme final team presentations was coordinated by Julia Cassim of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art. The design teams pitched their new design concepts to the audience. A jury and audience vote selected the winning team. Brian Stephens of Design Partners keynoted the event.

When: 13:00 – 17:00 Friday, 4th November 2011

Where: Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Only 90 minutes from Dublin.Directions and travel

See the event invitation.

Universal Design Challenge 2011 Awards

Agenda 15:00 – 17:00

  • 15:00 Welcome Address - Ger Craddock, CEUD/NDA
    • Team introductions - Julia Cassim, RCA/HHCD
    • Universal Design Challenge 2011 - overview
    • Jury and audience voting process described
  • 15:30 Design team presentations (6 minutes each)
  • 16:15 People’s choice award
  • Keynote - Presentation on Design by Brian Stephens, Design Partners
  • 16:45 Awards Presentation
  • 17:00 Close and Reception

The Universal Design Challenge 2011 was operated by the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority in collaboration with the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, London and DesignHub Offaly County Tullamore Ireland.

We also want to send a special thank you to:

  • Antoinette Fennell, NCBI/CFIT, Prize Site Coordinator / Organising Committee,
  • James Hubbard, CEUD/NDA, Director, Universal Design Challenge 2011
  • Neil Murphy, CEUD/NDA, Judging Coordinator / Organising Committee
  • Noel Joyce, Designhub, Team Member Recruitment Coordinator
  • Sean McNulty, Dolmen Design Associates / Organising Committee
  • And to our judges, the design advisors and all participants and contributors

The judges for the Universal Design Challenge were:

  • Neil Murphy, CEUD/NDA (chair)
  • Anne Kelly, Consumer expert for NSAI, AASCC, WG7
  • Jim Harrison, University College Cork
  • Keith Finglas, Innovation Delivery,Dublin
  • Leanard O’Sullivan, University of Limerick
  • Mark Dyer, TrinityHaus, Trinity College Dublin