Addressing Ageing Collection

One of the things that has most impressed me about RCA students is their enthusiasm for tackling some of society’s most difficult challenges, working with and for underrepresented and marginalised groups. Below is a collection of some of the most exciting work from RCA2020 and I would like to draw attention to three in particular;

I was delighted to see fashion designer Ellen Fowles embrace the challenges of clothing for an elderly audience living with challenging healthcare needs. The thought that has gone into the practical issues of dressing and undressing while still producing something of quality and beauty is wonderful to see.

I was also blown away by Constanza Valderrama’s Grandmother Exercise 1: Post It Photos. Such a simple idea, brilliantly executed and truly evocative for those who have experienced dementia first hand.

One of my favourites is Sarah Willemart’s FAMILIA product designs. Simple, beautiful, desirable (and functional) products for an audience that all too often has to put up with clunky, agricultural, cost driven devices. These are products I would have in my home today, which is surely the very definition of inclusive design.

Colum Lowe, Director, Design Age Institute