Cathy's Art Diary

Interesting exhibition at the Design Museum organised by the Royal College of Art Design Age Institute looking at initiatives which might help us live, work and socialise into our 70s, 80s and 90s. The show presents 10 projects with a small display on each. There was a mix of the inspiring which I’d like now and the weird. A couple were poorly explained and I’m not sure what the inclusively designed bank was offering that was any different. Of the inspiring I liked this work Station designed to be put in retirement homes which would actually be good in any flat. I loved the smart inner soles which connected to an app and analysed your gait to help with balance. Can I have them now? The best thing in the show was a link to sign a petition being run by the Institute calling on government to introduce a minimum design standard for packaging as in a survey people identified consumer packaging as the most frustrating household item in need of redesign. I don’t think that’s older age ...

Interesting exhibition at the Design Museum focusing on six deign initiative for older people. By 2040 over a quarter of the UK population will be over 60 and this show looks at how design is reimagining products, services and environments. The Design Age Institute set up in 2020 bringing together 5 organisations and research facilities to work on this. There were some good ideas but other things feel more like what young people think older people want. I admit I have just had a significant birthday so am a bit oversensitive about age at the moment! I liked an upright mobility scooter like a chair which was narrow enough to go through doors and fits under tables and desks. It would not just good for old people. My favourite was Gita, a cargo carrying robot which adapts to a person’s walking pace and manoeuvre round objects. I want one now for shopping etc. Basically a shopping trolley you don’t have to pull! I did worry about the idea they were encouraging people to talk to ...