Croydon to launch interactive tech competition. Pic: (Flickr)
Croydon council is to launch a competition to find an innovative piece of new technology that will enhance the experience for those visiting the town centre.
Partnered with the Architects Journal, the council-led competition invites talented designers to submit an interactive, tech-led concept that would enable Croydon visitors to navigate around the area as well as informing people of events happening in the borough.
Councillor Alison Butler, Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning told Eastlondonlines: “Croydon is undergoing significant change in the next few years as development and regeneration activity intensifies.
“We are really excited to commission this competition which we hope will lead to an original product that embraces innovative technology and will help people navigate around Croydon as exciting change happens.”
The competition seeks a concept design for a visitor route between West Croydon and Fairfield Halls, which will be used as a prototype. If a workable, cost-effective and successful proposal is found, the scheme will be rolled out across the town centre.
Multi-disciplinary teams are permitted and entrants are invited to consider collaborating with a range of professionals including; architects, graphic designers, lighting experts, way-finding experts, technology and software companies, urban planners, product manufacturers, street furniture designers, acousticians, accessibility experts and artists.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 26 and shortlisted entries will be assessed by a judging panel made up of Croydon Council Chief Executive Jo Negrini; Councillor Alison Butler, Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning; Richard Waite, News Editor at Architects’ Journal; Simon Allford, Director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris; Sarah Luxford, Co-founder Croydon Tech City; and Dan Hill, global digital studio leader at Arup.
BBC journalist and presenter Razia Iqbal will chair the panel.
Iqbal said: “I am delighted to be chairing the judging panel for this exciting competition. We want to see the creation of a revolutionary product that becomes instantly synonymous with Croydon. It needs to look good, be fun to use and must prove to be a valuable tool for Croydon visitors and residents alike, as the town goes through unprecedented change.”
