In a ceremony at Lancaster Gate yesterday, The Minister of State for Disabled People, Sarah Newton MP, appointed Ed Warner, co-founder of the award-winning, accessible design company Motionspot as sector champion for the ‘Design of Products and Spaces’. The new role reflects the importance of designing more inclusive environments, accessible products and making those with a disability – who represent 13.2m people in the UK – a priority.

Ed Warner says: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as sector champion for the Design of Products and Spaces and help represent the needs of disabled people. My vision is to encourage a culture of change across the industry, so products and spaces are better designed to suit the access needs, style preferences and budgets of the disabled. The ultimate goal is to create beautiful, accessible environments that are appealing and inclusively designed for everyone”.

Minister for Disabled People, Sarah Newton, says: “Sadly disabled people are often locked out from the everyday experiences many of us take for granted, whether that’s enjoying the great outdoors or benefiting from latest innovations in technology. Our new champions will fight for the rights of disabled consumers so they can spend their money where and when they want, just like everyone else.”

The new sector champion, Ed Warner, intends to involve greater numbers of disabled people in the design process, to ensure products solve a specific need on evidence-based principles. He also intends to promote the engagement of more disabled people to work on the launch of new products. Ed adds: “It is important that all groups are aware of the positive impact that well-designed, accessible products and spaces have on the physical and mental well-being of disabled people; and that if these are well-designed they can appeal to everyone”.

Ed aims to encourage universities, industry bodies, product designers and manufacturers to think differently when designing accessible spaces and products. He will help improve best practice, highlight the commercial benefits of good accessible design, and share learning and progress with others. Outreach with house builders, retirement and care home developers as well as local authority procurement departments will be essential to this process.

About Ed Warner and Motionspot

Ed Warner is Co-founder of Motionspot, a RIBA award winning business specialising in improving the accessible design of homes and commercial spaces through the design, manufacture and supply of beautiful products that transform lives.

Ed launched Motionspot in 2012 after his friend and Co-founder James Taylor was paralysed in a diving accident and became depressed by the clinical design and poor quality of adaptations in his home. Ed has built Motionspot into an industry leader in accessible design, helping to transform spaces and lives through accessible environments combining aspirational, quality products to deliver independence for anyone with a disability.

In addition to designing improved access in hundreds of homes across the UK, Motionspot has provided design advice and innovative accessible products to retirement developments, care and housing providers, hotels, offices, public spaces and leisure facilities across the world.

See: www.motionspot.co.uk