高齡社會觀察

 The world is ageing at a rate that is near impossible to replace. By 2030, one quarter of the population of the developed world will be over 65, and within Western Europe, nearly half the population will be over 50 years of age. These days, however, life does not stop in the silver years. The ageing demographic is enjoying better quality of an extended active life. Ageing no longer holds the grim prospect of simply growing old, but opens doors to new adventures. It is this change in perspective and lifestyle that gives rise to the need for designers to evaluate designs for ageing.

Recognizing this prospect, Singapore’s National Design Centre for Ageing, >60 Design Centre, is organizing the International Conference on Design for Ageing (ICODA) to be held in Singapore for the first time in 2010.

Encapsulating the theme of “Timeless Design”, ICODA will serve as a platform for the engagement of the great minds of the world in design for ageing: from the designers to gerontology professionals; the industry players to government policy makers. ICODA aims to be a marketplace of ideas, encouraging the sharing of design and product innovations through dialogue and discussion to reach new solutions, tap new resources and expound on new intellectual capital to improve the quality of life for older persons.

ICODA 2010 will address the Business, Design and Education aspects of four key topics – Habitat, Medical, Wellness and Employability, through the presentation of academic papers, keynote speeches and exhibitions. The conference will also host the Awards Ceremony of the International Design Awards 2010 (IDA 2010).

Established in 2008, the International Design Award (IDA) recognizes the key role that design plays in enhancing the value of products and in driving business in the silver industry. IDA celebrates outstanding designs in the field of design for ageing. It also inculcates the value of social responsibility in designers by raising the awareness levels of the needs of the growing global silver population.

Held in conjunction with ICODA 2010, IDA 2010 will focus on “Timeless Design” in 2 categories: Open and Student. Registration for the competition will open early next year.

Details for both ICODA 2010 and IDA 2010 will be posted at www.ida2010.sg

資料來源：http://www-des.tp.edu.sg/des_home/des_industry/des_defa/des_icoda_2010.htm