Sanctuary Care is gearing up for the finals of this year’s prestigious DBA (Design Business Association) Inclusive Design Challenge.

The event, which has been sponsored by Sanctuary Care for the second year, challenges designers to create a product, service, environment or communication to address the theme of sedentary lives, for example children who are glued to their computers or elderly people who might be physically less able.

Described as ‘the combined Oscars and Olympics of Inclusive Design’, the challenge is a collaboration between the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre and the Design Business Association.

On Thursday 5th March the five shortlisted entries will go head to head before a panel of judges at the Royal College of Art in London.

Steve Wood, managing director of Sanctuary Care, a subsidiary of leading UK housing provider Sanctuary Group, said: “The standard of this year’s entries has been truly inspirational and would directly benefit people living in our homes and receiving our care and support services.”

Elisabeth Parker, Sanctuary’s director of care (older persons) and one of this year’s judges added: “The brief is relevant to so many of our clients and I am delighted that it has prompted so many different responses. “

Organiser Julia Cassim, senior research fellow at the Helen Hamlyn Centre added: “The level of professional engagement with inclusive design on the part of the professional design community has increased in leaps and bounds since the first Challenge was held.”

Open exclusively to DBA members, the challenge was launched in 2000 in response to a gap in the disability aids and equipment market.