Curiosity Talk - Universal Design: Building Products for Everyone

Join our panel discussion with DTU Skylab on 'Universal Design: Building Products for Everyone'. 

In this panel discussion you will hear from guest speakers Marie L Pollman-Larsen, and current student Andreas Stadsvold Christensen, from The Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

This session aims to showcase DTU's toolkit for universal design through examples of ideas, products, and startups created by students. The 45-minute discussion will conclude with an open Q&A session. Open to all current UQ students and staff. 

Event details

Date: Thursday 28 March 2024
Time: 5-6pm 
Venue: Ventures space, Ground Floor, Global Change Institute (Building 20), UQ St Lucia Campus [MAP]

Can't make it in-person? Join this session online via Zoom.

Guest speakers

Marie L Pollman-Larsen
Technical University of Denmark Skylab

Design & Innovation Engineer of background. Joined DTU Skylab in 2016 and among others, heading the programme ‘Technology Leaving no one Behind’ – an ambitious partnership that provides opportunities and support to make inclusion and accessibility a natural part of engineering new sustainable technological solutions. She has also lead the design and management of ‘Next Generation Action’ – a global initiative to engage university students, early stage entrepreneurs and influencers to bring their perspective and ideas into global events.

Marie is using her entrepreneurial mindset and passion for impact, to develop new formats that invite university students and early stage entrepreneurs to be involved in sustainability projects with public and private stakeholders during their education. She leverage her 15 years of experience as design engineer in Africa and Asia, designing everything from refugee tents for tropical areas, to entrepreneurship programs on safe street food in Kolkata, to leading large-scale health programmes in South Sudan as Country Director of an international NGO.

Andreas Stadsvold Christensen
Technical University of Denmark student

Master's student in Design & Innovation, specialising in holistic design, where he utilizes the Universal Design Principle as a driver of innovation. Grounded in Design Thinking, his approach integrates these principles to ensure accessibility and inclusivity across all solutions. He has collaborated on various student-led projects and workshops aimed at developing universally accessible engineering solutions, including the co-design of products such as ergonomic commuter backpacks and inclusive phone queuing systems.

About DTU Skylab

At DTU Skylab, the convergence of technologies and talent from different fields, combined with an entrepreneurial mindset, creates a unique culture of learning and innovation for everyone involved in the DTU community. DTU Skylab is a cross-disciplinary learning environment used by various institutes at DTU, and offer soft funding, business acceleration, prototyping and a space to grow for deep tech startups and pre startup projects.

Technology Leaving No One Behind is an initiative providing opportunities and support to make inclusion and accessibility a natural part of engineering new sustainable technological solutions at DTU. The initiative is powered by DTU Skylab and enabled through partnerships with The Bevica Foundation, Disabled People’s Organizations Denmark, Association of Youth with Disabilities, and DTU Entrepreneurship.