Andy Tennant

Profile

Prior to his involvement within design education Andy’s work experience spanned a broad disciplinary arc that ranged from the preparation of detail design drawings within a structural engineering consultancy to being part of a multi-disciplinary design team charged with the delivery of large-scale urban regeneration schemes.

These experiences provided him with a rich seam of practice-based knowledge which has proved invaluable to him in his various teaching roles. Of equal importance was the opportunity for him to develop a nuanced understanding of, and respect for, the disciplinary interconnectivity required to move from concept stage to successful  'product'.

Upon entering employment within Higher Education, he spent several years delivering both theoretical and practical modules into the BA ( Hons ) 3D Design: furniture and product programme which provided him with a host of fantastic experiences and many cherished memories.

Whilst he still contributes a small component part to this programme, his predominant current role is Subject Lead for students studying for an MA in 3D Design which has been extremely rewarding and has in turn called upon him to examine and refine previous pedagogic approaches as well as evolve new methods specifically appropriate for a postgraduate cohort.

Over several years he has also developed and introduced a series of diverse, cross-disciplinary and inclusive activities to the broader design school community. The primary aim being to establish informal, non hierarchal and collaborative environments wherein the learning as oppose to the instruction paradigm is the central credo and accordingly all participants be they student or staff share equity in terms of authorship, content and form.

Project

Inclusive Design Network

Early stage design sketch proposals for a lightweight portable ramp to be used  by  wheelchair users or their carers.
Design : First year Design for industry student : Isaac Teece

A simple development to domestic kitchenware which facilitates easier opening of ring pull containers
Design : Second Year Three Dimensional design student : William Mills

The overarching aim of this application is to gain support for the establishment of an Inclusive Design Network with the intention of bringing together interested parties from a number of different sectors and organisations in order to share best practice with regard the matter of inclusive design * ; how it can be further explored and developed within those groups, and adopted by those yet to practice it. The activities and the subsequent outcomes of the network would be targeted at engaging as wide an audience as possible.

* Inclusive Design is a way of designing products and environments so that they are usable and appealing to everyone regardless of age, ability or circumstance by working with users to remove barriers in the social, technical, political and economic processes underpinning building and design. http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/inclusivedesign.htm

This project initially began in April 2009 when I launched an initiative with the Multiple Sclerosis Society - the primary aim of which being to introduce undergraduates and postgraduates from an array of design disciplines to project work outside of their usual frame of reference.

An initial presentation within the School attracted 90 students and 17 members of staff. Speakers included two local contributors one of whom was diagnosed with the condition several years ago, along with a person who acts as a carer for a partner who has the condition.

A visit to their local support group followed where myself and several students chatted to a number of individuals. It was during this initial visit that I was told that this was not the first occasion that external agencies had shown interest in working with the group but many had failed to develop the relationship.

I vowed that I would do my best to make sure that would not happen this time.

Subsequently, I organised two inclusive design workshops wherein students ranging from first year undergraduates to final semester postgraduates explored how we might address some of the issues we encountered. The resultant output including student feedback was exhibited as part of the MS Life annual conference.

Attendees at first Inclusive design workshop in School of Design, Northumbria University.
Undergrads and postgrads – home and International students. Photo: Andy Tennant

The positive feedback we received both during and after the event and the connections we were able to make encouraged us to continue our work.

The first  manifestation of this was presentations to students studying for a Masters Degree in MDI – multi disciplinary design innovation. Several of the groups developed projects around issues relevant to MS and one group was shortlisted for the regional final of the Audi Design foundation’s annual award. The group proposed a scheme called Empower - a “people time” organisation which aims to navigate Young People with caring responsibilities to existing charities and systems. The project has been developed with the assistance of Sheila Crawford – MS Local Support Development Worker along with several members of the Newcastle MS Support group.

A further development has been the establishment of five £3000 MS Life funded bursaries open to all final year undergraduates and final semester postgraduates who wish to base their project work on an agenda of Inclusive design.

This years recipients are drawn from three undergraduate programmes ie Design for Industry, Interior Design and Fashion Communication and from two Masters programmes ie MA Design and MDI.

Projects include  an inclusive, multi-sensory fashion exhibition, the redesign of the IV pole and associated medical equipment and a drop-in high street clinic for 16 to 25 year olds.

Funding from the Teaching Fellowship award will be specifically utilised to cover the costs of a series of Inclusive Design Network days within the School whereby we would host gatherings of interested parties with the aim of investigating :

• The establishment of a regular forum for discussing all things inclusive be it through the eyes of the individual with a chronic ailment or the business person that wants to embrace the issue but does not know where to start. A key aspect of this forum would be the welcome we extend to as broad a group of representatives as possible especially those who lives are impacted by exclusive design.

• The collation of a register of stakeholders both regionally and nationally which is equally welcoming of individuals as well as businesses or institutions

• The development of innovative teaching materials to be used at all levels of education to promote inclusive design approaches in as broad a disciplinary arc as feasible – engineering, design, arts , the built environment etc etc

• Development of business tools to support those organisations who wish to engage with this issue

• The instigation and support of cross disciplinary research within the University and beyond

• Funding opportunities to support and develop the network

The invited audience will be broad and diverse and include :

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students

• Academic staff and technicians

• Researchers

• Business community representatives especially those involved in the design and production of enabling or assistive equipment

• Practising designers from a number of disciplines

• Third and fourth sector representatives

• Those affected by disability and carers
  
  

I’m confident that there may be several different narrative threads that spinout from the activities of the network that will impact on both the student and staff body, the School, University and wider regional and national communities.Primary amongst them is the possibility of establishing unions with other third sector organisations  similar to the model we have developed and are continuing to develop with the MS Society.These activities, which have been detailed in the opening of this document, will be regularly monitored, recorded and evaluated in order that we can demonstrate to other interested parties how they could engage with us in a similar manner.