Design the Change: How UK Students Are Innovating for Spinal Cord Injury Solutions By: Michelle Zeman

 Did you know that for the 4th year, law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp announced that entries are being accepted for the Design the Change competition?

 

It’s true! The firm invites UK students to design a product that helps make the lives of people with spinal cord injuries easier. The winner will receive £5,000, and the runner-up will receive £2,500. Last year’s Design the Change competition winners included Tom Baker, who created a state-of-the-art wheelchair buggy to help parents with spinal cord injuries safely and efficiently transport their children.

 

I love that this is a competition. I genuinely appreciate the work that Bolt Burdon Kemp is doing to promote innovation and inclusivity. By encouraging young minds to think creatively about solutions for those with spinal cord injuries, they’re making a real difference in people’s lives and showing how important accessibility is in design. This type of initiative raises awareness and inspires a future generation of empathetic problem-solvers.

 

Competitions like these also remind us of the power of collaboration. While not everyone may walk away with a trophy, every entry helps shine a light on the everyday challenges people with spinal cord injuries face. Your ideas, big or small, can inspire real solutions and potentially spark broader conversations about accessibility and innovation in design.

 

To students in the UK, I encourage you to explore the Design the Change competition to learn more about eligibility, submission requirements, and how you can get involved. This is a fantastic chance to think outside the box and have your ideas impact someone’s life. Plus, the opportunity to win such substantial prizes makes participating even more rewarding!

I look forward to seeing what ideas this year’s participants come up with to improve the lives of those with spinal cord injuries. Thinking about how creative minds can tackle real-world problems and create tools or products to enhance lives is inspiring. Whether through a new mobility aid, an innovative app, or a reimagined everyday product, the possibilities are endless—and each idea contributes to building a more inclusive world.

If you’ve ever dreamed of making a difference through design and innovation, this is your chance to step up. Take the challenge and show the world what you can do. Together, we can create a future where thoughtful, accessible design is the norm, making life a little easier for everyone.

Comments

  1. JoanieJanuary 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM

    This is a very exciting read! And such a great opportunity for innovative minds to exercise their brain and talents for the betterment and advancement of others!Look forward to a follow up from you, Michelle on the ideas that arise from this competition! Excellent idea, and we agree that this should be part of a USA competition as well! Great write up, thank you for sharing! Happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jason HahrJanuary 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM

      Happy new year to you also. Michelle does great work in this article is just yet another example of that great work. Thank you for your comment. We are glad you enjoyed the articles. I totally agree with your point that the US needs to do something similar to this. There is a great deal we can learn from our fellow humans we only have to be willing to pay attention.

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