I have been thinking about design talking about it and writing about
talking about it and writing about
talking about it and writing about design for almost my entire career
design for almost my entire career
design for almost my entire career that’s about 40 years even longer if you
that’s about 40 years even longer if you
that’s about 40 years even longer if you consider my early childhood in a 1950s
consider my early childhood in a 1950s
consider my early childhood in a 1950s Liverpool home where if you look
Liverpool home where if you look
Liverpool home where if you look carefully you can see my parents thought
carefully you can see my parents thought
carefully you can see my parents thought it was a great idea to balance a toaster
it was a great idea to balance a toaster
it was a great idea to balance a toaster on top of a bakelite radio this was a
on top of a bakelite radio this was a
on top of a bakelite radio this was a juxtaposition which clearly stimulated
juxtaposition which clearly stimulated
juxtaposition which clearly stimulated my interest in innovation so here I am
my interest in innovation so here I am
my interest in innovation so here I am aged 61 a silver fox a seasoned academic
aged 61 a silver fox a seasoned academic
aged 61 a silver fox a seasoned academic a graybeard albeit a clean-shaven one
a graybeard albeit a clean-shaven one
a graybeard albeit a clean-shaven one and I have officially joined the ranks
and I have officially joined the ranks
and I have officially joined the ranks of older people in this country and what
of older people in this country and what
of older people in this country and what I’ve been thinking about most recently
I’ve been thinking about most recently
I’ve been thinking about most recently is designed for the age bracket which I
is designed for the age bracket which I
is designed for the age bracket which I have joined and I have one overriding
have joined and I have one overriding
have joined and I have one overriding thought why is it so bad why is it all
thought why is it so bad why is it all
thought why is it so bad why is it all about medical looking aids and
about medical looking aids and
about medical looking aids and appliances why is it sourced from
appliances why is it sourced from
appliances why is it sourced from obscure catalogs rather than the Conrad
obscure catalogs rather than the Conrad
obscure catalogs rather than the Conrad shop who thought that white plastic grab
shop who thought that white plastic grab
shop who thought that white plastic grab rails in the kitchen was a good idea why
rails in the kitchen was a good idea why
rails in the kitchen was a good idea why are expectations so low so beige so
are expectations so low so beige so
are expectations so low so beige so bland now when we age things happen to
bland now when we age things happen to
bland now when we age things happen to our bodies things go south it’s the most
our bodies things go south it’s the most
our bodies things go south it’s the most natural and inevitable part of life’s
natural and inevitable part of life’s
natural and inevitable part of life’s journey as Shakespeare said we start
journey as Shakespeare said we start
journey as Shakespeare said we start with shining morning face and we end
with shining morning face and we end
with shining morning face and we end sans teeth sans eyes sans taste sans
sans teeth sans eyes sans taste sans
sans teeth sans eyes sans taste sans everything but why can’t we design for
everything but why can’t we design for
everything but why can’t we design for these gradual changes in the same way
these gradual changes in the same way
these gradual changes in the same way that great beautiful sexy design is
that great beautiful sexy design is
that great beautiful sexy design is created for other age groups now I don’t
created for other age groups now I don’t
created for other age groups now I don’t know about you but I’m not looking
know about you but I’m not looking
know about you but I’m not looking forward to living in a design ghetto of
forward to living in a design ghetto of
forward to living in a design ghetto of special needs gadgets
special needs gadgets
special needs gadgets world where all our interest in
world where all our interest in
world where all our interest in aesthetics and style and form is
aesthetics and style and form is
aesthetics and style and form is abandoned just to survive in later life
abandoned just to survive in later life
abandoned just to survive in later life we surely can do better than that
we surely can do better than that
we surely can do better than that now let me share with you my three top
now let me share with you my three top
now let me share with you my three top design fears for the future the three
design fears for the future the three
design fears for the future the three things that I have told my grown-up sons
things that I have told my grown-up sons
things that I have told my grown-up sons over my dead body
the mobility scooter it’s hardly an
the mobility scooter it’s hardly an object of desire is it it yes it does a
object of desire is it it yes it does a
object of desire is it it yes it does a job it gets people out and about but you
job it gets people out and about but you
job it gets people out and about but you are traveling alone frequently being
are traveling alone frequently being
are traveling alone frequently being screamed at by white band man
screamed at by white band man
screamed at by white band man you can’t take it into your own home or
you can’t take it into your own home or
you can’t take it into your own home or through the front door or into a shop at
through the front door or into a shop at
through the front door or into a shop at night it sits outside your residence
night it sits outside your residence
night it sits outside your residence winking away advertising the fact that a
winking away advertising the fact that a
winking away advertising the fact that a frail dependent person lives there it’s
frail dependent person lives there it’s
frail dependent person lives there it’s a security risk
a security risk
a security risk but inclusive design can improve things
but inclusive design can improve things
but inclusive design can improve things I have been curating an exhibition at
I have been curating an exhibition at
I have been curating an exhibition at the Design Museum just up the road in
the Design Museum just up the road in
the Design Museum just up the road in Kensington called new world and we
Kensington called new world and we
Kensington called new world and we invited several leading design teams to
invited several leading design teams to
invited several leading design teams to reimagine aspects of later life for
reimagine aspects of later life for
reimagine aspects of later life for older people one design team priest Minh
older people one design team priest Minh
older people one design team priest Minh good who are better known for doing
good who are better known for doing
good who are better known for doing Airbus interiors and Virgin Trains
Airbus interiors and Virgin Trains
Airbus interiors and Virgin Trains they reimagined the mobility scooter and
they reimagined the mobility scooter and
they reimagined the mobility scooter and what they came up with was they borrowed
what they came up with was they borrowed
what they came up with was they borrowed the language of the push scooter that
the language of the push scooter that
the language of the push scooter that children use and they created a stable
children use and they created a stable
children use and they created a stable three-wheeled motorized version so that
three-wheeled motorized version so that
three-wheeled motorized version so that grandmother’s can travel with their
grandmother’s can travel with their
grandmother’s can travel with their grandchildren and share time with them
grandchildren and share time with them
grandchildren and share time with them all it takes to rethink the object is a
all it takes to rethink the object is a
all it takes to rethink the object is a little creative consideration design
little creative consideration design
little creative consideration design fear number two
fear number two
fear number two the stairlift isn’t it fantastic a heavy
the stairlift isn’t it fantastic a heavy
the stairlift isn’t it fantastic a heavy invasive piece of engineering in your
invasive piece of engineering in your
invasive piece of engineering in your home
home
home guaranteed to wipe thousands off the
guaranteed to wipe thousands off the
guaranteed to wipe thousands off the value of the property yes it does a job
value of the property yes it does a job
value of the property yes it does a job lift you between floors
lift you between floors
lift you between floors but shouldn’t design be intervening
but shouldn’t design be intervening
but shouldn’t design be intervening before we get to this level of
before we get to this level of
before we get to this level of dependency it really is the object of
dependency it really is the object of
dependency it really is the object of last resort when all hope is gone design
last resort when all hope is gone design
last resort when all hope is gone design should be helping people to stay fit and
should be helping people to stay fit and
should be helping people to stay fit and healthy and the stair lift itself could
healthy and the stair lift itself could
healthy and the stair lift itself could evolve through design I’ve been taking
evolve through design I’ve been taking
evolve through design I’ve been taking part in a research project at the Royal
part in a research project at the Royal
part in a research project at the Royal College of Art with Stan er a British
College of Art with Stan er a British
College of Art with Stan er a British manufacturer in which we’ve put sensors
manufacturer in which we’ve put sensors
manufacturer in which we’ve put sensors on the stair lift and it’s part of a
on the stair lift and it’s part of a
on the stair lift and it’s part of a digital network of care so when the
digital network of care so when the
digital network of care so when the stair lift goes up or when it goes down
stair lift goes up or when it goes down
stair lift goes up or when it goes down a tweet is sent to the children and
a tweet is sent to the children and
a tweet is sent to the children and grandchildren in that circle of care so
grandchildren in that circle of care so
grandchildren in that circle of care so that they know that you are safe and
that they know that you are safe and
that they know that you are safe and well and moving about the house and we
well and moving about the house and we
well and moving about the house and we need more innovations of this kind
design fear number three the Zimmer
design fear number three the Zimmer frame about the only thing good about it
frame about the only thing good about it
frame about the only thing good about it is the name it gets you up and out of
is the name it gets you up and out of
is the name it gets you up and out of the chair but surely we can do better
the chair but surely we can do better
the chair but surely we can do better than that
than that
than that and indeed we can another project
and indeed we can another project
and indeed we can another project from the new old exhibition is by the
from the new old exhibition is by the
from the new old exhibition is by the designer yves behar and this is a soft
designer yves behar and this is a soft
designer yves behar and this is a soft suit it’s called the our power suit and
suit it’s called the our power suit and
suit it’s called the our power suit and it was designed in conjunction with a
it was designed in conjunction with a
it was designed in conjunction with a Silicon Valley startup called super flex
Silicon Valley startup called super flex
Silicon Valley startup called super flex and this enables the natural muscle
and this enables the natural muscle
and this enables the natural muscle movements of the body in the back the
movements of the body in the back the
movements of the body in the back the neck and the legs to be enhanced by
neck and the legs to be enhanced by
neck and the legs to be enhanced by those green hexagonal pads which are
those green hexagonal pads which are
those green hexagonal pads which are full of artificial intelligence and
full of artificial intelligence and
full of artificial intelligence and motors it’s a bit like an electric bike
motors it’s a bit like an electric bike
motors it’s a bit like an electric bike you have to pedal at first but then the
you have to pedal at first but then the
you have to pedal at first but then the machine takes over and we’re going to
machine takes over and we’re going to
machine takes over and we’re going to need a lot more of
need a lot more of
need a lot more of this type of innovation in the future
this type of innovation in the future
this type of innovation in the future now it’s often said that the reason why
now it’s often said that the reason why
now it’s often said that the reason why design for older people has such short
design for older people has such short
design for older people has such short runs shoddy production values low
runs shoddy production values low
runs shoddy production values low standards of design is because the
standards of design is because the
standards of design is because the market isn’t big enough this is complete
market isn’t big enough this is complete
market isn’t big enough this is complete nonsense according to the UN there are
nonsense according to the UN there are
nonsense according to the UN there are going to be 1.4 billion people over 60
going to be 1.4 billion people over 60
going to be 1.4 billion people over 60 on the planet by 2030 that’s a 50%
on the planet by 2030 that’s a 50%
on the planet by 2030 that’s a 50% increase from today we already have more
increase from today we already have more
increase from today we already have more pensioners than we have seniors in this
pensioners than we have seniors in this
pensioners than we have seniors in this country in Japan they have the simplest
country in Japan they have the simplest
country in Japan they have the simplest way of all of describing the phenomenon
way of all of describing the phenomenon
way of all of describing the phenomenon they say if you throw a stone in Tokyo
they say if you throw a stone in Tokyo
they say if you throw a stone in Tokyo it will hit a senior so this idea of a
it will hit a senior so this idea of a
it will hit a senior so this idea of a small market is utter garbage and we
small market is utter garbage and we
small market is utter garbage and we really need to start thinking seriously
really need to start thinking seriously
really need to start thinking seriously about how we’re going to raise
about how we’re going to raise
about how we’re going to raise expectations and raise standards to do
expectations and raise standards to do
expectations and raise standards to do this I believe that we’ve got to answer
this I believe that we’ve got to answer
this I believe that we’ve got to answer three fundamental questions and the
three fundamental questions and the
three fundamental questions and the first is about how we view the place of
first is about how we view the place of
first is about how we view the place of older people in the world do we want
older people in the world do we want
older people in the world do we want them safe and sound and out of sight in
them safe and sound and out of sight in
them safe and sound and out of sight in a stress-free secure environment or do
a stress-free secure environment or do
a stress-free secure environment or do we want them out and about in the world
we want them out and about in the world
we want them out and about in the world still working still traveling still
still working still traveling still
still working still traveling still contributing to their communities we’re
contributing to their communities we’re
contributing to their communities we’re ambivalent about this in the UK and this
ambivalent about this in the UK and this
ambivalent about this in the UK and this issue was crystallized for me in two
issue was crystallized for me in two
issue was crystallized for me in two exhibits in the New World
exhibits in the New World
exhibits in the New World on one hand we had an elder care
on one hand we had an elder care
on one hand we had an elder care apartment designed by Sam Hecht and Kim
apartment designed by Sam Hecht and Kim
apartment designed by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin in which everything is done for
Colin in which everything is done for
Colin in which everything is done for the older person through a system of
the older person through a system of
the older person through a system of modular walls in which appliances such
modular walls in which appliances such
modular walls in which appliances such as dishwashers and
as dishwashers and
as dishwashers and washing machines and fridges open two
washing machines and fridges open two
washing machines and fridges open two ways they open into the apartment but
ways they open into the apartment but
ways they open into the apartment but they also in open into a hidden network
they also in open into a hidden network
they also in open into a hidden network of service corridors in which robots and
of service corridors in which robots and
of service corridors in which robots and humans replenish the fridge or wash the
humans replenish the fridge or wash the
humans replenish the fridge or wash the clothes and put them back so everything
clothes and put them back so everything
clothes and put them back so everything is done for you
is done for you
is done for you but is this a gilded cage could it lead
but is this a gilded cage could it lead
but is this a gilded cage could it lead to more isolation if you don’t have to
to more isolation if you don’t have to
to more isolation if you don’t have to pop down to the local shop for a pint of
pop down to the local shop for a pint of
pop down to the local shop for a pint of milk when do you ever get to meet other
milk when do you ever get to meet other
milk when do you ever get to meet other people in contrast we showed another
people in contrast we showed another
people in contrast we showed another project by Hemingway design and this is
project by Hemingway design and this is
project by Hemingway design and this is a housing estate in Gateshead in which
a housing estate in Gateshead in which
a housing estate in Gateshead in which the car parking places have been removed
the car parking places have been removed
the car parking places have been removed outside the homes and replaced by tennis
outside the homes and replaced by tennis
outside the homes and replaced by tennis tables table tennis tables and barbecue
tables table tennis tables and barbecue
tables table tennis tables and barbecue stations to encourage neighbors to
stations to encourage neighbors to
stations to encourage neighbors to mingle across the generation so this is
mingle across the generation so this is
mingle across the generation so this is design to keep people together rather
design to keep people together rather
design to keep people together rather than push them apart and I think we need
than push them apart and I think we need
than push them apart and I think we need more of it given the numbers the second
more of it given the numbers the second
more of it given the numbers the second fundamental question is around
fundamental question is around
fundamental question is around technology what do we want emerging
technology what do we want emerging
technology what do we want emerging technologies to do for us this image
technologies to do for us this image
technologies to do for us this image shows seniors in Japan interacting with
shows seniors in Japan interacting with
shows seniors in Japan interacting with pero the robot seal and the Japanese are
pero the robot seal and the Japanese are
pero the robot seal and the Japanese are brilliant in developing a home robot
brilliant in developing a home robot
brilliant in developing a home robot industry because as a homogenous society
industry because as a homogenous society
industry because as a homogenous society they do not want their elders to be
they do not want their elders to be
they do not want their elders to be cared for by migrant labour but what’s
cared for by migrant labour but what’s
cared for by migrant labour but what’s going on in this country what are our
going on in this country what are our
going on in this country what are our preferences
preferences
preferences well I took part in a niche sauce Mori
well I took part in a niche sauce Mori
well I took part in a niche sauce Mori survey in which we asked people do you
survey in which we asked people do you
survey in which we asked people do you want to be cared for by robots or do you
want to be cared for by robots or do you
want to be cared for by robots or do you want to be cared for by humans to my
want to be cared for by humans to my
want to be cared for by humans to my surprise 1/4 of the sample said they
surprise 1/4 of the sample said they
surprise 1/4 of the sample said they wanted to be cared for by robots and
wanted to be cared for by robots and
wanted to be cared for by robots and that rose to a third among young people
that rose to a third among young people
that rose to a third among young people who obviously have a different
who obviously have a different
who obviously have a different relationship with technology but we
relationship with technology but we
relationship with technology but we should be careful what we wish for we
should be careful what we wish for we
should be careful what we wish for we should be wary
should be wary
should be wary a total total tech led approach in which
a total total tech led approach in which
a total total tech led approach in which contact with other people is engineered
contact with other people is engineered
contact with other people is engineered out of the equation we need a much more
out of the equation we need a much more
out of the equation we need a much more balanced approach a humane approach to
balanced approach a humane approach to
balanced approach a humane approach to technology and design can help us do
technology and design can help us do
technology and design can help us do that
that
that the final fundamental question we need
the final fundamental question we need
the final fundamental question we need to address is something known as the
to address is something known as the
to address is something known as the medical model of Aging
medical model of Aging
medical model of Aging and the medical model sees aging as a
and the medical model sees aging as a
and the medical model sees aging as a disease to be cured it’s all about
disease to be cured it’s all about
disease to be cured it’s all about decrepitude and dependency and it paints
decrepitude and dependency and it paints
decrepitude and dependency and it paints the older person as a passive indeed
the older person as a passive indeed
the older person as a passive indeed hopeless recipient of care the elderly
hopeless recipient of care the elderly
hopeless recipient of care the elderly person’s roadsign is ripe for redesign
person’s roadsign is ripe for redesign
person’s roadsign is ripe for redesign and in fact a group of designers got
and in fact a group of designers got
and in fact a group of designers got together to do precisely that what about
together to do precisely that what about
together to do precisely that what about other models a social model of Aging in
other models a social model of Aging in
other models a social model of Aging in which in the productive Third Age it’s
which in the productive Third Age it’s
which in the productive Third Age it’s all about new connections and new
all about new connections and new
all about new connections and new aspirations or a cultural model of Aging
aspirations or a cultural model of Aging
aspirations or a cultural model of Aging in which designers are encouraged to
in which designers are encouraged to
in which designers are encouraged to think about aging as an error there is
think about aging as an error there is
think about aging as an error there is rich in possibility unprecedented and
rich in possibility unprecedented and
rich in possibility unprecedented and unique and therefore deserving of
unique and therefore deserving of
unique and therefore deserving of special design attention in the end it
special design attention in the end it
special design attention in the end it all boils down to one thing do we want a
all boils down to one thing do we want a
all boils down to one thing do we want a life full of years or do we want years
life full of years or do we want years
life full of years or do we want years full of life and I know what I want if
full of life and I know what I want if
full of life and I know what I want if we are to avoid clinging to the Zimmer
we are to avoid clinging to the Zimmer
we are to avoid clinging to the Zimmer frame being marooned on the mobility
frame being marooned on the mobility
frame being marooned on the mobility scooter or stuck on the stair lifts then
scooter or stuck on the stair lifts then
scooter or stuck on the stair lifts then we need to make a change like a lot of
we need to make a change like a lot of
we need to make a change like a lot of people I was delighted at the
people I was delighted at the
people I was delighted at the government’s new industrial strategy
government’s new industrial strategy
government’s new industrial strategy announcing a grand challenge for ageing
announcing a grand challenge for ageing
announcing a grand challenge for ageing and I hope and believe that there’s
and I hope and believe that there’s
and I hope and believe that there’s going to be a lot of breakthrough
going to be a lot of breakthrough
going to be a lot of breakthrough innovation coming out of it but we also
innovation coming out of it but we also
innovation coming out of it but we also need a sea change in attitude a big
need a sea change in attitude a big
need a sea change in attitude a big shift that is conceptual and
shift that is conceptual and
shift that is conceptual and philosophical as well as practical if we
philosophical as well as practical if we
philosophical as well as practical if we can rethink our place in the world as we
can rethink our place in the world as we
can rethink our place in the world as we age if we can use technologies in a more
age if we can use technologies in a more
age if we can use technologies in a more humane and balanced way and if we can
humane and balanced way and if we can
humane and balanced way and if we can replace the medical model of aging with
replace the medical model of aging with
replace the medical model of aging with social and cultural templates that are
social and cultural templates that are
social and cultural templates that are more useful for designers then I believe
more useful for designers then I believe
more useful for designers then I believe that my worst fears about the future
that my worst fears about the future
that my worst fears about the future will not be realized we have the tools
will not be realized we have the tools
will not be realized we have the tools we have the technologies and above all
we have the technologies and above all
we have the technologies and above all we have the talent we just need the will
we have the talent we just need the will
we have the talent we just need the will thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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