Royal College of Art industrial design engineering graduate Ross Atkin has been selected as the first Helen Hamlyn-CABE Space research associate.

Sight line: designing better navigation for public spaces is funded jointly by CABE and the Royal College of Art (RCA) Helen Hamlyn Centre. The aim of the year’s programme is to investigate new product design solutions that address the problems faced by blind and partially sighted people navigating urban streets and public spaces.

The recent trend towards decluttering streets has seen the removal of signs, railings and, in some cases, kerbs. Spaces with the traditional demarcations and rules removed have reduced traffic speeds and accident numbers, but can impact on the ability of blind and partially sighted people to independently navigate these spaces.

Blister paving, the most common product design solution on our streets, is now over 20 years old. It can also cause problems for pedestrians with mobility issues and the elderly. CABE and the RCA Helen Hamlyn Centre are keen to explore the development of possible alternatives that work for all street users.

Rama Gheerawo, programme leader of the Helen Hamlyn Research Associates programme, said: "The research associates programme has led to some truly inspired ideas over the past ten years. Ross has practical experience as a designer on streetscape projects such as White City, Grosvenor Square and Hereford Town Centre and excellent research skills. I’m looking forward to working with him and other organisations who share an interest in this area."