Design Impact Award 2012 18 November 2012
The Lighthouse has given its inaugural award to recognise the nation’s design industry - The Lighthouse Design Impact Award. The award aims to show the huge contribution that design and innovation makes to the way we live and work. Mariella Frostrup, the radio and television presenter, chaired the judging panel for The Lighthouse Design Impact Award. The panel also included Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development, Creative Scotland; Philip Long, Director V&A at Dundee; and Kerr Robertson, a Project Director at Development and Regeneration Services, Glasgow City Council.
The first winner of The Lighthouse Design Impact Award is Josh Reid (pictured left) of Glasgow-based industrial design company Core PD Ltd, for the Poolpod.
The Poolpod is a submersible swimming pool platform lift which enables people with limited mobility to get in and out of swimming pools.
The Poolpod was commissioned by the Olympic Delivery Authority for the Aquatics Centre on its reopening in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with financial support from the London Marathon Trust. It is now attracting international interest, underlined by further orders.
Early next year, Josh will be donating a Poolpod to Maryhill Swimming Pool in Glasgow in recognition of the support he received there during the testing of the prototypes.
Josh, as the winner of The Lighthouse Design Impact Award, will receive a prize of £5,000 and become The Lighthouse Design Associate. As an associate, he will be able to influence the 2013 programme of The Lighthouse so that it better supports the design industry.
Only work which is completed, has found a buyer, or is in use can be considered for The Lighthouse Design Impact Award. The judges evaluated the benefits that a design or its process can have not just on the economy, but also society, the environment and culture.
Josh Reid said: “Smart designs can improve peoples' lives; building an enlightened society while also fuelling the economic engine and improving our quality of life. In accepting the honour of The Lighthouse Design Impact Award for Poolpod I want to acknowledge my colleagues’ expert input to the state-of-the-art electronics, engineering and software we used, without which the product would not have been possible. As The Lighthouse Design Associate for 2013, I will steer a programme at the lighthouse to highlight the contribution design and innovation play in engineering and scientific advances.”
Mariella Frostrup said: “It is incredibly important to celebrate the positive impact that design has on all our lives. The Lighthouse Design Impact Award, which is in its first year, does this by focusing on designs that have delivered benefits to the economy, environment, society or culture. I have no hesitation in selecting Josh’s Poolpod design as it will bring real benefits by bringing another level of independence to people with limited mobility. It demonstrates how design can identify opportunities to deliver real benefits.”
Councillor Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Jobs and the Economy, at Glasgow City Council, said: “Design is something that makes a real impact on people’s lives, and good design is something that deserves to be supported if our knowledge economy is to grow. Scotland’s design sector has a reputation for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. These are vital elements in helping to grow Glasgow and Scotland’s economy and support job creation. I am delighted to present this award to Josh Reid for Poolpod, whose design undoubtedly has made a substantial impact. I would also like to pay tribute to everyone involved in this inaugural award for all their support.”
Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development, Creative Scotland, said: “Innovative design has the ability to improve the way we work, live and play. Josh’s design is a fantastic example of the impact that good design has on people’s lives. Creative Scotland is delighted to recognise the value of design though this award.”
Scotland’s design sector (including fashion and textiles, product design and service design) employs about 11,700 people and contributes £440million to the economy. *
The Lighthouse Design Impact Award was funded by Creative Scotland.