Could you be the next James Dyson or Clive Sinclair? If so, the V&A wants to hear from you.
That’s because a major design competition has just been launched in partnership with the Dundee museum.
Organisers are hoping to uncover independent living inventions of the future.
The Blackwood Design Awards (BDA) invites budding designers, engineers and inventors from all over the world to submit their creations to help people with a disability or independent living need live life to the full.
The V&A tie-up is hoped to kick start a long-term venture as both interests align in that design should focus on the needs of the end-user while supporting independent living for all.
Joanna Mawdsley, Head of Learning at V&A Dundee will join the expert panel of judges while the venue will host the highly anticipated award ceremony in January 2023.
She said: “Competitions like the BDA encourage concepts, designs and products from a whole cross section of the community and emphasises that anyone can create the next life changing design.
“It’s a real privilege to work with Blackwood on this project and it’s inspiring to see designs that will help to make an exceptional difference to meeting people’s daily support needs.
“The world of design is moving at such a fast pace, so I’m looking forward to seeing what this year’s entries have in store for us and how design can continue to play its vital role in enriching people’s lives”
Both experienced professionals and gifted amateurs can enter the awards, meaning that both technologically advanced and those simpler, yet often most successful designs, are equally welcome.
The awards can also represent a great opportunity for design students to get their first big break while still at university.
Previous winners have included an app that helps make living spaces safer for people with dementia and inventor Grant Douglas’ “spill proof” spoon – the S’up Spoon – which is exhibited at V&A Dundee and was designed for those affected by conditions which cause them to shake.
Key categories include Best Collaborative Project, Best New Concept and Best New Aids, Equipment or Accessible Technology.
Entrants can win £2000 prize money for Best Collaborative Project and support from our category sponsor Hyper Luminal Games.
The same amount is also up for grabs for Best New Concept and a package of support, sponsored by Social Telecoms and a trophy as well as Blackwood endorsement for the existing product that wins Best New Aids, Equipment or Accessible Technology sponsored by Kingdom Gas.
The awards mark Blackwood’s 50th Anniversary, since it was founded by Dr Margaret Blackwood MBE, a respected campaigner for the rights and independence of disabled people.
She was deeply committed to people being able to live independent lives and, following her work to improve their financial situation, set her sights on providing housing that was suitably designed for disabled people.
Blackwood now operates more than 1500 properties across 29 local authorities, provides care services and invests in innovation and technology to help people live life to the full.
- The deadline for entries is Monday 13th November. More information on the competition that closes on Monday 13th November can be found here or here.
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Dundee and Tayside. Sign up to our newsletters here
And did you know Dundee Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and a share
