Temasek Polytechnic has announced that it is setting up a "Greater than 60" Design Centre that focuses on designing age-friendly products for the elderly.

Minister-in-Charge of Ageing Issues Lim Boon Heng said the centre, which opens in April, will receive S$3 million in seed funding from the Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry.

"A designer who is working on design for the ageing needs to be very sensitive to the needs of the ageing population. Being sensitive allows them to calibrate and bring them to the next level of understanding (the ageing population)," said Moses Wong, director of Temasek Design School.

The centre will harness ideas not just from design students but every student studying at the polytechnic, as it intends to go beyond gadgets and fashion.

The school said it is currently looking at some 800 design ideas and expecting more, as the notion of design for the elderly takes off.

For more information:
>60 Design Centre
Temasek Polytechnic,
Temasek Design School
21 Tampines Ave 1
Singapore 529757
t: 6780 6789
f: 6789 8237
e: info@greaterthan60.com