Patrick Horrigan, Mark Kerins
Challenge
By 2050 135 million people worldwide will be living with dementia, a hidden disability that is under-addressed in terms of design thinking and solutions. This condition affects a person’s independence, confidence and cognitive ability. A particular problem for a person with dementia is their ability to navigate a journey and make an informed decision at a critical decision point: for instance, whether to turn right or left.
Impact
Stride is a directional device inspired by the function of a compass. Designed as a tool to help a person navigate through a journey, Stride pays particular attention to the challenges people with dementia may face on their daily commute. Stride gives its user a greater sense of location on their journey, whether getting to or travelling on public transport.
Stride is a project developed by Patrick Horrigan and Mark Kerins, 2015 graduates of the National College of Art and Design. The design evolved from the brief to design or redesign a mode of public transport during their final year of Industrial Design studies. The chief aim of Stride is to help people with dementia navigate their journey through an environment with confidence, so restoring independence.