Annual 2010

www.enabledbydesign.org

It’s all about people-powered products: Enabled by Design is a community of people passionate about well designed everyday products. By sharing their loves, hates and ideas, Enabled by Design-ers challenge the one-size-fits-all approach to assistive equipment through the use of clever modern design. It’s two years since the concept for Enabled by Design was brought to life at the first ever Social Innovation Camp. During this time, we’ve been keen to find a way of giving those well designed products that help to make people’s lives that little bit easier the praise and recognition that they so deserve. Of course, we do this everyday on the Enabled by Design website, but we also thought it would be nice to pull together the best of the bunch in the very first edition of the Enabled by Design Annual.

The Enabled by Design team has trawled the website to come up with what we think is the best of the best, so read on to find out who’s managed to bag themselves a prize… Enjoy! Team EbD x

Introduction

Mary O’HaraSociety Guardian

When Denise Stephens speaks, it is with the kind of bubbly pride and enthusiasm that might be expected from any budding young web entrepreneur...

Enabled by Design in the media...

Mark WardBBC Technology website

Ms Stephens said she grew increasingly frustrated with unattractive assistive technology that made her home resemble a hospital. She started Enabled by Design to share information about better designed, cheaper and more attractive alternatives...

Denise StephensDisability Now article

I saw the need for EbD, developed it with my business partner and won first prize at the first ever Social Innovation Camp...

Lifetime Achievement AwardWinner OXO and their Good Grips range

To kick off proceedings, we’d like to dedicate this award to an organisation that really has helped to inspire what Enabled by Design is working to achieve. Universal design is at the core of OXO’s mission, which means that during the design process the needs of as many people as possible are taken into consideration.

The result is a range of innovative, intuitive products that are comfortable, easy to use and help to make day-to-day tasks more manageable. 

From a salad spinner that can be used with one hand and a measuring jug that can be read from above without bending down to tools and utensils with non-slip, pressure-absorbing handles, we believe no home should be without at least one item from the OXO Good Grips range.

Pure gold dust!

www.oxo.com

Best In ShowAwardWinner Trabasack

Dominic says: “Not got hold of one yet, but this looks bloomin cool. I’d probably use the bag to put the laptop on and protect my, um, legs from frying. But I can imagine all sorts of uses. And anything described as a ‘lap tray travel bag’ has to be a bit unique and innovative right??”

www.trabasack.co.uk

The award winning Trabasack is a bag with a firm flat surface on one side and a removable bean bag cushion on the other.

Why Didn’t I Think Of That!? AwardWinner Folding Plug

Dominic says: “I carry around my laptop whereverI go. The laptop is heavy enough as it is, but I have to bring the bulky and relatively big plug to go with it, which takes up space in my bag and weighs a fair bit as well. Min-Kyu Choi’s plug looks like it might help - lightweight and foldable to save space in my bag. Love it. Now just to get hold of one somehow...”

www.minkyu.co.uk

The UK Folding Plug transforms from a bulky three-pin plug into a portable, hassle-free plug ideal for people on the go.

smiler says: “Is it a knife or fork?…With limited dexterity in one hand I was fed up asking people to cut my food up. Being an independent chap I hated the way it made me feel. So I thought - do something about it… I have yet to try it on a Desperate Dan steak, but it copes fine with chicken and potatoes and veg. I also take it to pubs and restaurants to use.”

www.knork.net

Must HaveAwardWinner Knork

A hybrid form of cutlery which combines the cutting capability of a knife and the spearing capability of a fork.

This award is for a product that helps people to do things for themselves, when without it this might not be possible, and supports independent living. 

esinedw says: “I decided to order these after seeing them mentioned in the ‘Ideas Factory’. I can now get my trainers on and off easily, and importantly for me, without help : ) A great Idea!”

www.locklaces.com

DIY AwardWinner Lock Laces

An “elastic shoelace and locking system” for runners and triathletes which features specially designed elastic laces and a spring-loaded locking device.

Household Gadget Or Gizmo AwardWinner One Touch Can Opener

Clean, fast and effortless can opening, ideal for those with limited hand mobility

Denise says: “I wouldn’t be without my One Touch can opener! It takes all of the hassle out of opening a tin of baked beans. Sit the can opener on top of the tin (the magnet holds it in place), press the button and watch it do all the hard work for you …”

www.culinare.com

LifestyleAwardWinner Aeron Chair

Lili1 says: “Even Goldilocks would love this chair. OK, I know this wonderful chair is best known in posh offices inhabited by city suits. But I think everyone should know about it. Why should the city office dwellers have all the comfort?

As someone who has joint problems not to mention a wonky back, I took myself off to the nearest store that sold them, sat on one for 30 mins (usually it takes this length of time for me to get some sort of twinge when sitting on an uncomfortable chair) and it was bliss - no twinges. I’m sure Goldilocks would have approved.”

www.hermanmiller.com

Healthy comfort and balanced body support with its innovative suspension and easy-to-use adjustment controls.

U_John says: “I want to recommend the Opera web browser to anyone who requires extra assistance with surfing the Internet, or using a computer whenever a browser is required. The designers have gone to a great deal of trouble to provide facilities in case people need them.”

www.opera.com

TechnologyAwardWinner Opera Browser

Free and easy to download Web browsers for computers, mobile phones and devices. Fly through Web pages by using thoughtfully-designed features.

smiler says: “I admit I was a bit cynical when I volunteered to trial the Volaris S7 rollator. I thought it was the must have accessory for the older generation. How wrong I was - I now wouldn’t be without it!!”

Fernando says: “I have been trying it for a month now, mainly during weekends when my wife and I go for a walk. It has given me back independence when walking as it is robust and stable. The adjustable seat is great, can park anywhere (streets, shops) and just have a rest or even read a book (my strategy when my wife goes shopping).”

www.volaris.se

Out & About AwardWinner Volaris S7 rollator

The Volaris S7 is a newly developed light and flexible rollator with functions for everybody.

Wooden Spoon AwardWinner Hotel Hairdryers

katiekate says: “Having stayed in far too many cheap hotels recently, my biggest bug bear about them is the horrible hair dryers they provide. I can live with the single heat setting and the way they only seem to stretch a centimetre from the wall, but what I can’t cope with is the button on the handle you have to keep holding down to turn it on. 

For anyone with any dexterity or pain problems in their hands, having to hold down this button is just so difficult and painful. I don’t understand why the button is even necessary - do hotels have big problems with rogues leaving their hairdryers on all night long that I don’t know about?? It is a massive issue and one that doesn’t need to be there. Come on hotels, sort it out.”

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This year’s Annual is missing just one thing and yes you’ve guessed it, it’s the winner of the Community Choice Award. So why is this? Well, this little booklet has very much been the dress rehearsal for the first Enabled by Design Annual and Awards, which we’re planning to roll out next year. As always our community is at the very heart of what we do and for this reason we’ll be getting you involved throughout the nomination process, as well as asking you to vote for the winner of the coveted Community Choice Award. So watch this space (well, the Enabled by Design website) for more details…

Community ChoiceAwardWinner Who knows, you’ll decide, but not until next year...

Meet one of our Enabled by Design-ers...

Denise Walbrugh

So who is Denise? This is a difficult one to answer... I think I can sum myself up as someone with MS who is looking for better ways or gadgets to make everyday things easier for me to do. Style is very important to me. I spend quite a lot of time on my laptop - too much at times!

What brings you to enabledbydesign.org?It’s a great site for anyone who is looking for stylish assistive equipment, cool gadgets and new ideas. There’s nothing else quite like it out there. It’s also fun just browsing through the site!

What one item can you not live without? My funky Switch Stick.

What’s your biggest frustration with kit? It’s often really so ugly, usually grey with little or no style.

What’s number one on your wish list?Ban all the grey! Bring in colour and style! Wouldn’t that be great?!

Hear, hear Denise!

A very big THANK YOU for your stellar efforts and for being such a good sport by answering our questions. We’re certainly looking forward to hearing lots more from you in the future...

Thanks again!

Team EbD x

We’d like to introduce our very first featured Enabled by Design-er. Drum roll please!!! Her name is Denise Walbrugh and she’s had lots to say both on the Enabled by Design website, as well as our facebook group. We asked her a few questions to find out more about her ‘Loves’, ‘Hates’ and why she keeps coming back for more...

Enabled by Design has been a real beacon of how things should be, kit-wise and attitude-wise too, and has helped me a lot, as I’m sure it has others.

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We really hope that you’ve enjoyed the Enabled by Design Annual 2010 practice run edition and look forward to seeing you again next year. In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts about our plans and if you’ve got any suggestions, then even better!

The Enabled by Design Annual 2010

A very big thank you to the fantastic team at Sidekick Studios for making this project possible! : )

enabledbydesign.org

sidekickstudios.net

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