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Knee High Design Challenge

Finale event 9 May 2016.

Design Council and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity  celebrate the Knee High Design Challenge. Over the last two years, they have invested in imaginative and effective interventions that will make a lasting difference to children’s early years. NEF Consulting worked with them to evaluate the social and economic impact of new services and products for children under five years old.

When: 9 May 2016  Time: 9.30am – 2pm
Where: Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, 108 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH

If you would like to attend please see the Design Council website.


Knee High Design Challenge logoThe Knee High Design Challenge is an open innovation programme funded by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, and run by the Design Council in partnership with Southwark and Lambeth Councils. It supports the development of new services and products to raise the health and wellbeing of children under five living in Southwark and Lambeth.

NEF Consulting evaluated the effect of these services and products while they were piloted over a twelve-month period from January 2015 to December 2015.


This event is a chance to take stock of what has been achieved so far, examine the work that has been completed and look ahead to the opportunity for open innovation and collaboration to see real change in people’s health and wellbeing.

Hear from guest speakers including Professor Yvonne Doyle, Regional Director of Public Health England, on this new approach to solving complex social challenges and the important role design must play in early intervention.


Knee High Design Challenge finale event – draft agenda

09.30 Registration & refreshments
10.00 Welcome: John Mathers, CEO, Design Council
10.10 Programme introduction: Oliver Smith, Director of Strategy and Innovation, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity
10.20 Insights from the Knee High ventures: Chaired by Dan Milne, Director Narativ

Case Study 1 – Pop up Parks: Tom Doust, Founder
Case Study 2 – Kids Connect: Tracey Gilbert, Founder
Case Study 3 – Creative Homes: Sally-Anne Donaldson, Creative Director

10.40 Q&A and discussion session
11.00 Break – refreshments: Chance to view Knee High Design Challenge’s three finalists’ work on display Networking
11.30 Keynote presentation: Yvonne Doyle, London Regional Director, Public Health England
11.45 Panel: the opportunity and challenge of open innovation and design in creating new improvements in health and wellbeing. Chaired by Oliver Smith, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity

Emma Stevenson, Assistant Director Children and Maternity, Lambeth CCG/London Borough of Lambeth
Abdu Mohiddin, Consultant in Public Health, Lambeth and Southwark Public Health Directorate
Graham Randles, Managing Director, NEF Consulting
Rashid Iqbal, Director of Children and Families Services, London Early Years Foundation
Elaine Allegretti, Head of Strategy, Planning and Performance for Children’s and Adults’ Services, London Borough of Southwark
David Bartram, Head of Ventures, UnLtd

12.45 Event summary/close – John Mathers, Design Council
13.00 Lunch
14.00 END


The three finalists of the Challenge will explain their journey through the Challenge, what happened next and how they have been developing their ideas and taking their ventures to the next level.

Those attending the event will receive a summary report of the impact of the Challenge, produced with the help of NEF Consulting,  and a paper explaining their view on the opportunity design and open innovation represents for public health.

We all hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you on Monday 9 May.

For more information please see the Design Council website.