Virtual Granny features student design competition

Design For The Future

Three cheers for The College of Richard Collyer and their innovative and stylish designs focused on overcoming one or more of the challenges of ageing, with pioneering, stylish and. aspirational creations.

“Designing for the Future” is a competition run by The Future Perfect Company and Richard Collyer in Horsham, for entry by AS students, who embraced the brief readily.

Philippa Aldridge, founder of The Future Perfect Company found that the most thoughtful designs came from those who had spoken with their older relatives about the realities of ageing, something which must seem almost unimaginable to this group of 16 year olds.

The winning designer Glen Crombie, made a push out plug socket, which can eject a plug from a socket at the touch of a button – a fantastic concept for people who have not so nimble fingers for any number of reasons.

Other fantastic winning designs include a very stylish self heating mug, which does away with heavy kettles by using electromagnetic induction to heat a mug of water. Not only a great energy saving idea, but ideal for people who want a quick cuppa at their desks or want to boil up a brew on holiday.

Other designs include an ingenious light bulb changer which avoids the perils of step ladders and a very funky grip glass which makes it easy for people with gripping challenges to drink with confidence and without drawing attention to their disability.

So top marks to the students and especially to Philippa Aldridge, for bringing  old and young members of the community together on a brilliant project which can only benefit both parties in the future.

For more information about the “Design for the Future” competition, which runs yearly and to peruse innovative products created especially for people who have age related challenges or general disabilities – or actually for anyone who likes funky stylish gadgets and designs, visit http://thefutureperfectcompany.com