These are times of upheaval. From the collapse of supply chains to the new rules and regulations that shape our everyday lives, Covid-19 has forced us all to rethink our habits and embrace new behaviours.

Socio-technical systems design was originally conceived by Fred Emery and Eric Trist. It is an approach to understanding the system around technology which forms part of our focus on front end research – i.e. the process where we create solutions that will naturally resonate with people.

The Red Dot jury has made its decision: Severin SPUMA 700 Plus emerged victorious from the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2020 and won a Red Dot for its good design quality.

Ergonomics and Human Factors practice are inherently broad and multi-disciplinary, but one thing that unites us all is a focus on design.

Young people wearing make-up has long been a subject of debate, from one perspective seen as a harmless form of play (role play) and self-expression; and from another, the pressure to grow-up all too quickly with an emphasis on achieving a ‘perfect and flawless’ look.

In this final instalment of our kids’ series, we are going to be delving into the wonderful world of play to uncover new approaches within this space and the role of our old ‘friend and foe’, technology…

Dr Chris Vincent, Principal – Human Factors & Ergonomics at PDD, discusses the importance of designing user-friendly medical devices, and the need for customised solutions within the healthcare environment.

We are proud to announce that our work for Severin SPUMA 700 Plus has been awarded the Plus X Award 2020, the world’s greatest innovation award for technology, sports, and lifestyle.

Important advancements within medical technology are opening up new possibilities for the healthcare industry to redefine itself through the use of devices able to provide, collect, analyse, and convey data.

At PDD we’ve taken a look at a range of smart and connected products for the bathroom that aim to harness technology for wellness in an unobtrusive way.

Brands are set to elevate their offerings to match the new consumption habits and, as we have seen earlier this year at design events across the world, the concept of sustainability is set to surround our lives both physically and emotionally.

Kids today… born into the digital world, these digital natives are switched on, savvy and influential.

Advances in medical technology are opening up new possibilities within the health care domain.

The online learning programme enables organisations to access various video-based courses and effective tools needed to discover and define opportunities, brainstorm, prototype and test solutions.

Organised yearly by the Institute of Materials & Mining (IOM3) and the Worshipful Company of Horners, the Design Innovation in Plastics competition brings together creative young minds to tackle some of the most pressing global issues.

From 14-22 September, London Design Festival and London Design Fair have taken over the city with multiple installations, events and trade shows.

September 4th, Berlin – the city was once again home to the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances.

Customisation and personalisation; concepts that are rapidly becoming “de riguer” for the millennial generation. The consequence is that expectations around tailor made solutions are growing.

Within the context of chronic conditions, the administration of the therapy is often performed by the patient. As a consequence, home-use devices for self-treatment, such as inhalers or blood pressure kits must be functionally reliable and easy to use for patients with little to no prior experience in performing such tasks.

Mobile phone software applications are a ubiquitous part of society. In 2018, there were estimated to be 205.4 billion smartphone health app downloads (worldwide). In 2021 this figure is expected to rise to over 352.9 billion.