Europe, Universal Design, April 10 2019
Now in its fifth year, Design Council Spark is putting a new focus on driving accessible home innovation; Design Council Spark: The Home Innovation Challenge is aiming to deliver major impact, both financially and socially, for people with reduced mobility or disabilities.
Innovators challenged to design products for homes to win investment fund and help disabled people live independently.
In the UK, there are currently 14 million people living with a disability and 25 percent of the population are due to be over the age of 65 by 2046. Design Council Spark showcases how innovative design is fundamental to futureproofing people’s ability to live independently and enabling bright ideas to transform future homes for everyone.
According to the Global Economics of Disability, disabled people, along with their carers and families, wield a global spending power of $8 trillion. Additionally, people aged 65 or over are estimated to increase their spending power to $15 trillion by 2020, notes the Global Coalition on Aging.
Design Council Spark aims to support ground breaking, commercially viable ideas which can support economic growth in the UK. Each finalist from the 16-week programme will receive £15,000 to support the development of their product concept, as well as the chance to pitch to an investment panel for a share of up to £150,000 to fast track their product concept to market.
Sarah Weir OBE, Chief Executive of Design Council, commented: “We’re incredibly proud of our Spark programme. Since we started in 2014 it has helped more than 100 innovators and entrepreneurs to develop their product ideas. With this year’s focus being on an issue very close to many of our hearts, it presents a great opportunity to change lives, break new ground, build businesses and grow the UK economy.”
The categories for entry cover products from everyday household tasks to transforming the experience of getting around:
- Getting up/going to bed
- Washing and bathing
- Getting dressed
- Cooking and eating
- Working
- Gardening
- Cleaning
- Answering the door
- Sitting
- Relaxing
The call for applications to Design Council Spark: The Home Innovation Challenge is now open. Those with innovative product ideas that will make life at home easier and better for all are encouraged to apply.
To apply, people can click this link
Design Council Spark is a UK product innovation support programme and investment fund designed to help people turn clever ideas into commercially successful products that improve lives.
Since its inception in 2014, Design Council Spark has helped more than 100 innovators and entrepreneurs to develop their product ideas, 45 of these have been intensively supported with mentoring, funding and specialist input to help them progress to market.
