OAD available on new lightweight wheelchairs

Our One Arm Drive (OAD) is now available on some of the best lightweight wheelchairs around. Nomad can now retrofit the OAD to (amongst others) the TiLite ZRA2 and the Quickie Helium.

 

These lightweight chairs are really complemented by our lightweight, minimalist design and make propellling wheelchairs with one arm a simple and easy function. Above is the TiLite with Nomad's OAD and below is an image of the OAD on a Helium.

 A quick update on the awards front...We went down to the launch of the Brit Insurance Designs of the Year 2011 last week and had a great time. Met some old friends there (hi Steve, David, Ed, Si) and made some new ones...

We wondered around the Design Museum, set on the banks of the Thames in London, celebrated our design and marveled in others - all in all a great event!

Ourone arm drive in amongst the best of international design, from all fields - there were Japanese art installations, architectural  projects, household appliances, and all other manner of entries. The only thing the nominations had in common was that they all showed the value of great design. Design can make our lives better - if not by actually making it easier or more efficient, then by simply making the world a prettier, more fun place to be. For Nomad to be included in this kind of company is the greatest compliment.

We would like to thank the Design Museum staff for hosting such a great event, they all made us feel very welcome and special. Also, Brit Insurance for sponsoring the event and a special thanks to David Rowan, Editor of Wired Magazine for nominating Nomad for such a prestigious award.

We will update you on the results, as they are announced in March...watch this space!

OAD Design Award Shortlist

Nomad's latest product, the One Arm Drive (OAD) has been a hit with users, it is now a hit with the design world. Nomad was notified that we had received a nomination for Design of the year some time ago...news even better than this came late last week...we were shortlisted!

As if this wasn't enough, we were then asked if the Design Museum, London could install the OAD as a feature in the museum. What an honour.

Up against the likes of Apple and Dyson in the Brit Insurance Design Awards, we are in esteemed company! Some information on the awards follows: 

The Brit Insurance Designs Awards, "the Oscars of the design world," showcase th e most innovative and forward thinking designs from around the world. Last year 's winner, was the Folding Plug by Min-Kyu Choi that revolutionises a humbl e, but   essential, piece of everyday equipment. The Design Museum’s exhibition and awards are supported by Brit Insurance, an international general insurance and reinsurance group specialising in commercial insurance.

The showcase show is open to the public from 16th February. Results of the awards are announced on 28th February (wish us luck!). More infomation is available at:

http://www.designmuseum.org and http://www.britinsurance.com

Regards,

The Nomad Team

Mrk1 Design Case Published in Book

The Mrk1 wheelchair continues to gain positive publicity from all areas - normally users,  the mobility industry, or design circles - this time it is from the academic world!

Anne Massey, Professor of Design History at Kingston University, London, has published a book on The Chair, as a cultural and design icon. Chairs help seperate us from the animals, raising us off the ground. They have, over time, become more complex and have come to mean different things to different people, at different times (think of thrones, rocking chairs, office chairs).

 Professor Massey then goes on to consider how the chair has been adapted by the medical industry to help people with disabilities. After a look at the history of wheelchairs, Nomad is used as an example of modern, innovative wheelchair design. What a compliment!

Professor Massey's excellent book 'Chair' is available from Reaktion Books from February: http://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk/book.html?id=435

Air Travel Research...A call to wheelchair users...

We are conducting research into how wheelchair users feel about flying with commercial airlines.

We are investigating the possibility of improving the pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight experience for wheelchair users and would like to hear what is currently good / bad about flying with any airline.

If you are a wheelchair user, or you know one with experience in air travel, please let us know. Any opinions, experiences, anecdotes or suggestions are gratefully received.

Information will be gathered via a short questionnaire and sent via email. Annonymity and confidentiality are guaranteed.

If you are interested in trying to improve an industry, please contact Jon Owen (jon@nomadwheelchairs.com) for further information.

Thanks all!