Design win at BIN Porto

This is the team presenting to the
delegates for their consideration for the ‘people’s
choice’ award. Luis is demonstrating the
prototype on the right of the Podium

The Business Innovation Network (@BIN) is a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, Porto University (UPorto), and São Paolo University (USP)- with an ever widening network of associations and organisations. The focus of the network events is to build productive relationships across Europe and South America that focus on translating knowledge into action…both in business and academia.

Cardboard prototypes that we made of the idea

CLAHRC YH was well represented at this year’s event in Porto by the TaCT design Researcher Dr. Matt Dexter, who was invited to lead a teaching seminar for Masters Design students, and to lead an international team of designers, engineers, and a ‘design partner’ (a person with lived experience of disabilities) as part of the 24hr Design Challenge during BIN@Porto.

The 24hr Design Challenge format was developed by Professor Julia Cassim of the Design Lab, Kyoto Institute of Technology and the challenge was organised by Lígia Lopes and Cecília Carvalho (co-founders of Design Includes You Association), and facilitated by Julia Cassim. The challenge involved four teams competing to produce an idea that would impress an interdisciplinary panel of discerning judges, as well as the delegates of the networking event!

This is us hard at work! The lady in the red
glasses is Prof. Julia Cassim of the Kyoto Design Lab

Matt’s team was comprised of a talented group of designers, ranging from Masters students to experienced creatives with many years’ experience. Luis Vaz, the design partner had lost the use of his legs along with having reduced mobility and grip strength in his left hand. Collaboratively the team produced a prototype for an attractive satchel that met the unique needs of wheelchair users, whilst also providing innovative solutions for users of all types. The bag was designed to be beautiful- and the team was incredibly well supported by an experienced fashion designer (Abhishek Chatterjee) who was a designer at a major fashion house. The bag was dubbed Karri, and the team produced a paper prototype in two colour ways.

Team photo

Team Karri scooped both awards, impressing the judges and the assembled attendees of BIN@Porto 2015. The event was a great opportunity to disseminate the design work done in the TaCT theme to an international audience- as well as discussing issues around this with the talented Masters Students in design at UPorto.