This year’s Designs of the Year are as fascinating as ever.
This annual list of innovative ideas, chosen by the Design Museum, includes wacky, wonderful, inspiring and in some cases life-changing ideas.
In the architecture section, one of my favourites is the Child Chemo House, which has been designed to allow children to live a relatively normal life with their families whilst having chemotherapy treatment.
The list of 72 designs also includes a digital section. Here there is a search and rescue drone that allows members of the public to join search operations from their mobiles, computers or tablets, and a gaming app that is meant to last centuries and has to be passed on after your lifetime in order to be finished.
Top designs in the fashion section include dresses made from stiff 3D embossed textiles and a multi-purpose shoe that can be worn as a dress shoe and for sport.
Under the furniture heading, I particularly like the The Pro chair, which aims to promote healthier sitting – I certainly need this one as I slouch over my computer every day…
In the graphics section, one invention that stands out is Chineasy, an illustrated system for helping people from the West to learn and understand the complicated Chinese language.
The Chair 4 Life, in the product section of the awards, is a truly inspiring idea for a wheelchair system for children that grows with them and can be easily modified to suit individual needs.
I love reading these fabulous inventions every year – it’s like a highly professional version of Dragon’s Den.
http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2014/designs-of-the-year-2014