Page 3 of Design for our future selves 2003 Awards by Helen Hamlyn Research Centre - Royal College of Art

1 challenge How can design students at the Royal College of Art be encouraged to think about their efuture selvesf, explore social challenges in their projects and test their ideas with users? The Design for our Future Selves awards scheme, now in its fourth year, is organised by the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre at the College to give young designers a platform for creative interaction with social trends and key user groups. This publication introduces the 55 shortlisted projects in the 2003 awards, which are competing for ’6,000 in prize money. Every shortlisted entrant also receives a research bursary from the Research Centre as well as access to a knowledge network of experts and literature. Students were given five competition briefs to choose from this year. Two address the socially invisible groups of older people and young disabled people; two investigate the challenges of work-life balance and urban mobility; and a fifth section for social communication projects continues to grow. This year, for the first time, award-winning Design for our Future Selves concepts and prototypes will be featured in an exhibition at the Royal College of Art in September as part of the London Design Festival.

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