Pearson Matthews have been participating in and stimulating debate for over 30 years. Not only will you find us at the centre of design and innovation but also in Parliament, at business networking, technology and health related events.
Here are some of the most recent, key and upcoming events for 2008. For previous events use the archive navigation on this page.
16th July 2008
The NIHR i4i Invention for Innovation Programme launch:
case study by Mike Pearson on i4i approach
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London
The National Institute for Health Research i4i Invention for Innovation Programme was launched to healthcare product innovators through a series of addresses by prominent figures in the healthcare and innovation arena.
The key address given by Professor Lord Darzi, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health, helped to set the scene on the current status of innovation in health, summarising key points from his recent review of the healthcare system in the UK, and outlining the next steps to be undertaken.
Mike Pearson followed later in the programme giving insights gained from current experiences of engagement with the i4i Programme and the Department of Health. Pearson Matthews is currently involved with the i4i programme to aid and develop projects at different stages of the innovation journey from early stage to commercialisation.
The Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is a direct response to the need to speed up the innovation process turning inventions into new products to meet the demands of a 21st century health service.
i4i builds on two existing and successful NIHR programmes New and Emerging Applications of Technology (NEAT) and Health Technology Devices (HTD) combining them and integrating them more closely into the innovation process.
Further Information
To find out more about i4i and the event go to: National Institute for Health Research - i4i Programme
To view Mike's presentation go to: "How i4i operates"
Alternatively go to: Launch of the National Institute for Health Research Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme and follow the top navigation "How i4i operates".
Download
launch programme
5th August 2008
Hybaid features in Jimmy Doherty's Farming Heroes:
Northern Ireland
BBC iPlayer
The Hybaid designed by Pearson Matthews features in Jimmy Doherty’s Farming Heroes, a documentary on BBC where Jimmy continues his journey around the UK, meeting the people who are shaping the future of farming.
Jimmy searches for those striking out in new and original ways that will help all of us meet the challenges of the gathering world food crisis. In Northern Ireland, farmers are putting a new twist on traditional ways.
The Hybaid is used to test the DNA of an apple to discover whether it is a new variety, strain of an existing variety or potentially a ‘long-lost’ variety.
Further Information
To watch Jimmy Doherty's Farming Heroes go to BBC iPlayer (Download available unitl 12th August 2008)
Issue 4 - Summer 2008
Article: Designs that just aren't working for me...
Design Council Magazine (DCM)
In the article Jim has chosen six designs that make the wrong kind of statement – and one that was unjustly lambasted.
“We must be ashamed of pointless products, excess packaging, unsustainable manufacture and shocking ergonomics. But sometimes you can see that the design process itself has gone wrong. That’s when we must really hang our heads.”
“How are clients supposed to understand what design is when it is fast becoming a generic term for anything?”
Further Information
To read the article in DCM pick up a copy from the Design Council by contacting the Design Council: www.designcouncil.org.uk
Alternatively download the PDF below:
17th June 2008
Designing Demand - Launch
Tanaka Business School, Imperial College, London
The Designing Demand programme – which shows business leaders how good design can turn ideas and technologies into profitable products, services and brands – was officially launched in London.
The event offered greater understanding, to both the design community and prospective business clients, of the programme and benefits already gained by hundreds of businesses.
10th June 2008
Breakfast meeting with Governor of Tomsk region,
Russia
Ambassador's residence, Moscow
A select number of individuals representing leading British companies were invited to attend the Breakfast meeting with the Governor of Tomsk Oblast, organised in conjunction with UK Trade and Investment.
Jim was invited to attend the meeting which aimed to introduce major UK businesses to the Tomsk Oblast, the leading region of the Russian-Federation in innovation potential. The area with six universities preparing specialists in science and high-tech business, has huge opportunity for commercial investment and knowledge and technology transfer.
9th June 2008
Pearson Matthews and Sadler Associates (Product Design)
merge to form Pearson Matthews Innovation Consultants
Pearson Matthews and Sadler Associates joined forces on 1st October 2006 giving a combined total of over 60 years experience within the design industry.
By joining Pearson Matthews with Sadler Associates the offer across the entire innovation journey has been substantially strengthened. Sadler´s near-market expertise of design for manufacture greatly complements Pearson Matthews´ traditional expertise in the earlier stages of strategy and R&D, providing clients with a unique offer unparalleled by anyone else operating in the same space within the industry.
Not only does the union of the two groups offer a completeness for anyone wanting innovation and design expertise but also an in-depth understanding and experience across specialties which include medical and healthcare from Pearson Matthews and scientific and consumer product from Sadler Associates.
The combined skills, specialist expertise and knowledge from the two groups, from engineers to designers and strategists, is what makes Pearson Matthews Innovation Consultants stand out from the competition.
The current website launch brings both groups together under the one united brand of Pearson Matthews Innovation Consultants, reflecting the new and progressive offer across the entire innovation journey which better meets the needs of business and industry today.
Further information
To find out more about the innovation journey and what
Pearson Matthews Innovation Consultants can offer you call us on:
020 8547 0470
4th June 2008
MedilinkWM Medical and Healthcare Industry Conference
Birmingham
Keynote address: Professor Lord Robert Winston
As part of the extensive networking with KTNs and TTNs around the UK, Ken Sadler attended this event in the West Midlands which offered the opportunity to further develop links with academia and industry.
Professor Lord Robert Winston's talk was predominantly focussed on innovations over the past three or four hundred years in the healthcare sector. A brief description of his early work and facilities had a call for more and greater ethical concerns within innovation circles. He also made the point that the medical and healthcare sector should engage with the public in greater depth, particularly in explaining new ideas with the aim to avoid confusion, which commonly occurs at present.
Photo: Professor Lord Robert Winston. Image by: S. Oakes
29th May 2008
Art and Medicine: Can design save your life? Debate
Wellcome Collection, London
Coming off the popular Art & Medicine 2007 event, this debate aimed to explore the way that the medical and design worlds intersect. Achievements and innovations in design are changing, improving and challenging the world of medicine to such an extent that we are compelled to ask Can Design Save Your Life?
Jim sat on the panel saying: “Everyone wants to get into the healthcare space, from designers to retailers,” he says “My fear is this expansion will cause confusion just when the client/consultancy relationship is demanding an increased level of professionalism. The consultant needs to take a lead, to be a true consultant. There is so much knowledge and experience accumulated in consultancies, that it’s critical clients get a chance to benefit from it. If the designer merely does what he’s told, where’s the gain?”
Further Information
To read the review in Design Week download the article below or go to: www.artfund.org
15th May 2008
DBA Branding and Design Conference
Russian Embassy, Moscow
Jim attended the Conference held in Moscow in May. The conference centred on using branding and design to improve your profits and opened up a forum for debate in one of the emerging BRIC economies where design and branding are increasingly playing a pivotal role in the country's development.
Further Information
Design Business Association: www.dba.org.uk
3rd April 2008
Mike Pearson talks about harnessing new technology
to deliver new healthcare services.
Dr Foster DIgital Communications Roundtable, Groucho Club, Soho
With the NHS being one of the largest homogenous healthcare providers in the world and opinion suggesting that the "Connected for Health" programme is years ahead of Europe and the US, the NHS seems ideally placed to take advantage of the benefits of new communication technologies.
Mike discussed how change in society is incremental and progressive. The introduction of technology, while having permeated society in a number of circumstances, still has challenges to overcome to be inclusive and demonstrate clear benefit particularly in healthcare.
Mike concluded with his views on the importance of brand in healthcare and how the benefits of communication with come from the convergence of consumer health and the health system.
Further Information
To find out more about Mike´s speech and how it may
affect your organisation contact him on 020 8547 0470.
www.drfosterintelligence.co.uk
3rd April 2008
Isis Innovation networking event
New College, Oxford
As part of our membership of ISIS Innovation, Pearson Matthews regularly attend events which bring together academia, industry and financial sectors to discuss future collaborations to take invention through to innovation. The recent event heard experts discuss the role that finance, academia and industry all have to play, followed by a networking dinner, which forged links and relationships for future projects.
Pearson Matthews´ experience throughout the innovation journey offers an invaluable component to any tech transfer project.
Further Information
18th March 2008
DBA Inclusive Design Competition
Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore
Pearson Matthews have been commended for their entry into the Design Business Association Inclusive Design Challenge for Memory Clinics, a walk-in proactive service on the high street that champions the maintenance of mental acuity and acts as a trustworthy monitoring facility.
Pearson Matthews aims to use design thinking to find ways to fundamentally change people´s attitudes to cognitive decline and thereby affect government policy.
Memory Clinics encourages people to take a preventative approach to memory loss through regular memory check-ups in the same way we do with eyes and the body. The walk-in high street service gives tips and advice on how to keep the mind active and healthy.
Further Information
Memory Clinics case study www.dba.org.uk
18th March 2008
The Future of Primary Care
House of Commons, Westminister
The breakfast meeting gave insight into the future direction of care provision; a movement towards services which is based less on central direction and more on patient control, choice and local accountability.
Dr David Colin-Thome´s keynote speech talked about the importance of taking care closer to home and the proposed reforms to primary care. He made reference to the Darzi report and the debate regarding polyclinics.
Pearson Matthews have been working within service based healthcare and innovations to encourage self-management of health for many years, previously with Circles of Care and more recently with Memory Clinics.
Further Information
Circles
of Care case study
www.healthinparliament.org.uk
March 2008
Jim Dawton presents to Northern Ireland audience
as part of MATCH
Belfast
Jim talked about the implications of design on the success of medical device products. In order to discuss this, it was important to establish what people understood by the word design. Much of the presentation illustrated the use of design tools along the innovation journey.
MATCH is a research collaboration between five leading UK universities in healthcare technology assessment, and a cohort of industrial partners. It is recognised and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as a centre of excellence in its field, having been awarded the status of Innovative Manufacturing Research centre (IMRC).
MATCH aims "to support the healthcare technology sector and its user communities by creating methods to assess value from concept through to mature product and by engaging with regulatory bodies at home and abroad".
Pearson Matthews are an industry partner.
Further Information
6th February 2008
Healthcare Commission: An update, Associate Parliamentary
Health Group
House of Commons, Westminster
As members of the Associate Parliamentary Health Group and Parliamentary Design Group, Pearson Matthews regularly attend events in the Houses of Parliament.
The update given by the Healthcare Commission was given by Anna Walker, Chief Executive. Key points discussed were: the role of the Commission to assess the NHS and report to Parliament, the methods used to assess and put focus on the patient and planned areas where further work is needed.
Further Information
2005-2008
i2 Event, Medical Futures
House of Commons, Westminister
Mike Pearson as part of the i2 Faculty addresses the audience of clinicians, scientists and academics; healthcare professionals, managers and SME´s to bring together the skills and experience to transfer ideas from benchside to bedside.
As sponsor of Medical Futures events, Pearson Matthews work closely to offer their expertise to help boost ideas and business.
Further Information
www.medicalfutures.co.uk/i2event
www.i2event.co.uk
Blog
12:00 1st June 2008
My Harley
Mike Pearson
Restoring a Harley Davidson WLA 45 was a labour of love which lasted for 2 years. Read its story here.
19:29pm 28th May 2008
Connecting with wood
Mike Pearson
As an ex-model maker it was not hard to sculpt in wood; what I did not think about was what wood did when it dried!
Up and Coming
13th - 28th September 2008
London Design Festival
Across London
Now in its sixth year, The London Design Festival has established itself as a major event on the international design calendar, appealing to an increasingly wide audience, from consumers to professionals to students and all those with a keen interest in design.
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