A business growth campaign launches today, to connect SMEs with larger corporations to understand human-centred design.
Led by inward investment vehicle, MIDAS, it will feature experts from BBC R&D Future Experiences and Honey Badger.
The Future of Human Experiences and Human-Centred Design programme has been set up to recognise the impact of design in everyday objects and tasks, this includes improving the functionality of all forms of tech and engineering. It also examines how activities, from walking around a supermarket or accessing government services are not made harder by design.
It is part of Innovate Manchester, a programme created by MIDAS and GC Business Growth Hub, and produced by FutureEverything.
Speakers include:
Alex Nelson, Head of Design, BBC R&D Future Experiences;
Dr Caroline Jay, Head of Research in the School of Engineering and the Digital Futures Human-Centred Design Lead at the University of Manchester;
Vimla Appadoo, the Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer of Honey Badger and;
Phillipa Nazari, Assistant Director Information Governance and Data Protection Officer at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
“Our programme is about inspiring collaborations that will bring forward radical new ideas and make the most of the rich diversity of design and digital expertise we have in Greater Manchester,” said Tim Newns, Chief Executive of MIDAS.
“We want to help companies with the HCD challenge and make sure that design is not just driven by technologists, but the experience of the people actually using the product or service. We all operate in an era where expectations have grown, with customers more ready than ever to proclaim #FAIL if something disappoints. Equally, there’s great excitement around the pace of change and how HCD will see things we take for granted change. In entertainment, for instance, the future may be about television programmes being much more interactive and personalised, having elements of gaming. All ideas that may require rethinking service design and delivery.”
The Future of Human Experiences and Human-Centred Design webinar takes place on Tuesday 23rd February.
It will be followed an invite-only virtual Innovation Lab in the week commencing in March.
The Innovate Manchester programme is part of the Build Back Better campaign to help the city region recover from the impact of the COVID pandemic.
