Latest news from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
4 Apr 2013
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Police livery design a global success
Ergonomists from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Design School have won a prestigious award for their development of the UK’s first nation-wide unified livery for police vehicles.
Research into the livery – a yellow and blue block ‘Battenburg’ design – was commissioned by the Home Office in a bid to enhance the safety of police officers and members of the public. Other emergency services across the country have adopted the design, and it is also being used in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Hong Kong.
This is the first time an academic institution has won the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (IEHF) Ergonomics Design Award, recognising the Design School’s world-leading expertise in this field.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Sharon Cook, part of the project team, said: “Prior to our work each police force used to have their own, individual marking livery for their force vehicles. An implication of this was that across the national motorway network there was a lack of consistency as to the visual representation of a police vehicle.
“The UK Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) commissioned º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ to undertake the required research to develop the country’s first national police vehicle livery.
“We are delighted that our work on this project has been recognised by the IEHF and this prestigious award.”
John Wood, Chairman of the award judges and Executive Chairman of CCD Design and Ergonomics added: “We’re delighted to have a worthy winner of this year’s competition. The livery developed by º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Design School has already been adopted here in the UK, and there is significant overseas interest too.”
The judging panel included senior representatives from the Design Council, Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and Which Magazine as well as continuing to enjoy the support of the Chartered Society of Designers. The Award attracted a very broad range of entries from both the business and non-commercial sectors.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s winning team will receive a cash prize at the award ceremony taking place in April, as well the opportunity to present their work at the conference and membership of the IEHF for a year.
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Notes for editors
Article reference number: PR 13/54
- º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Design School (LDS) staff have world-leading reputations for their research, teaching and collaboration with industry, commerce and the public sector. In the most recent UK-wide assessment of higher education research (RAE 2008), LDS staff had the highest Art and Design research profiles of any institution with 55 per cent rated as world leading, plus top rated scores from the Engineering panel. Staff undertake research and consultancy across a range of sectors, including vehicles, public transport, energy, mobile devices, home entertainment, consumer products, electronics, digital media, furniture, government, education, healthcare, sports clothing and equipment, packaging and construction. Its teaching expertise is evident in the high quality of the LDS graduates who are highly sought after, reflected in the excellent employability figures.
- The Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors was founded in 1949. It is the professional body for practitioners in the field of ergonomics and human factors, with an international membership of 1700. Its aim is to promote the awareness, education and application of ergonomics in industry, commerce, public sector and government.
- CCD Design and Ergonomics is a consultancy specialising in user-centred design and optimisation of environments, products and systems. It has unrivalled experience in the application of ergonomics and human factors to improve efficiency, reduce error and inspire people. CCD’s clients include Network Rail, CERN, BAA, Siemens, Eurostar, NATS , easyJet, Thames Water, Dow Corning, Tube Lines, British Airways, Medical Research Council, ITER, London Underground, Transport for London, BNFL, Home Office, DLR, Texaco, RailCorp, Highways Agency
- º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year 2008-09 title, and is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in national newspaper league tables. In the 2011 National Student Survey, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ was voted one of the top universities in the UK, and has topped the Times Higher Education league for the Best Student Experience in England every year since the poll's inception in 2006. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
It is a member of the 1994 Group of 11 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.
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