12 Apr 2019
Design School Success at Innovation Awards 2019
These inaugural awards recognise individuals, businesses and innovations that have either changed or are about to change the way we live.
The Leicestershire Live Innovation Awards were recently held at the King Power Stadium, and Loughborough Design School student Elliot Butler won the Innovator of the Year awards for his product “Tap Dash”. He inspired judges with his innovative fitness product for people who are visually disabled inspired judges.
Elliott is a final year student, studying Industrial Design & Technology. He has had his design developed and manufactured by a local company and worked closely with students of RNIB College to make Tap Dash part of an inclusive sports game. The design features a series of pods, and as each pod illuminates, players must run towards the LED button to switch it off, aiming to reach as many pods within a specific time. Tap Dash aims to break down barriers between the physically able and disabled.
Elliott commented: “I am delighted and very grateful to have received this award – I’ve very much enjoyed developing Tap Dash to its current state and look forward to continuing its development.”
Dr George Torrens of Loughborough Design School was runner up in the Innovation in Education and Training category. George has been training industrial design students, working to improve the lives of the elderly and disabled predominantly channelled through the Universal Design module of programmes at Loughborough Design School.
Congratulations to both Elliott and George.