D4D shows design for life

Devices for Dignity (D4D), recently joined health professionals, inventors and academics with a design for life, at a new conference and exhibition called Design 4 Health (D4H).

Among the delegates at D4H, which was based at Sheffield Hallam University, were Andrew Slorance, a man who has designed his own ‘Carbon Black’ wheelchair.

D4D is supporting Mr Slorance in getting the extremely lightweight carbon chair to market, and took part in a series of interviews with the BBC, who have been filming the development of Carbon black.

Organisers said the conference and accompanying exhibition showcased the need for health professionals to embrace new design techniques to address stigmas of ageing and disability.

Design 4 Health also brought together health practitioners and researchers to address how design can rise to the challenges of an ageing population.

To support this process D4D delivered an in depth two hour presentation that included audience engagement, focussing on key D4D thematic areas such as Assistive Technology, Urinary Continence Management and Renal Technology.

Professor Wendy Tindale, D4Ds Clinical Director – who presented at the event said:

“D4D has a central goal of delivering technology solutions to support people with long term conditions and ensuring they preserve dignity and independence where possible; the D4H event provided the ideal place for all the people involved in the design of products in the field to come together and look at new solutions to support this goal.”

Our picture shows Professor Tindale with Andrew Slorance, being filmed by the BBC.

For more information on Design for Health visit: http://www.design4health.org.uk