Design Bugs Out

Launched in August 2008, Design Bugs Out was a design challenge run in partnership with the Department of Health and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. It brought designers and manufacturers together with clinical specialists, patients and frontline staff to help combat infections by making hospital furniture and equipment easier and quicker to clean. Design Council identified 51 design opportunities with a project Expert Reference Group and Advisory Board, and shortlisted ten opportunities in two streams: five ‘quick wins’ that were developed by the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art, and five were advertised via a national design competition (e.g., Brunel won two out of the five competitions and developed the commode and patient chair with PearsonLloyd and Kirton Healthcare)