Meet the Design Council Spark awardee bringing style to independent living, one DRINK at a time.
Fiona Jarvis is on a crusade to redefine disability with style.
Being a finalist of Design Council Spark in 2017 has helped her on this journey, providing the perfect opportunity to develop her idea of a glass holder for the less-abled into a commercially viable product.
 “The fact we could expand our DRINK product came out of the Spark programme. It gave us ideas on how to broaden the market and make it more profitable”. If it wasn’t for Spark, this glass holder for wheelchair users would still be on the shelf gathering dust. We’ve seen our dreams turn to reality”
Fiona should know. The CEO and founder of Blue Badge Style Рa company devoted to redefining disability with style Рwas a finalist in 2017, earning herself a place on the intensive 16-week programme (plus £15,000 funding) with her product DRINK, a glass holder designed to allow less able people to enjoy a drink hassle-free.
“I’ve learnt such a lot,” said Fiona.  “If it wasn’t for the programme, this glass holder would still be on the shelf gathering dust. We’ve seen our dreams turn to reality. The whole team said they couldn’t believe we’d done this and we are still saying it.”
Design Council Spark is a leading UK product innovation support programme and investment fund designed to help you turn your bright idea into a commercially successful product.  The programme provides design expertise to help shape business opportunities and develop product innovations through an intensive process, which also gives access to specialists across business, IP, investment and marketing.
This year, Spark has launched a Home Innovation Challenge looking for applicants who have a bright idea for independent living. It’s an area that Fiona, who has MS and uses a wheelchair, is passionate about. Indeed, it was what inspired the idea for DRINK in the first place.
Applications for The Home Innovation challenge are now open.  If you have a life changing product idea, Design Spark could help bring it to life: www.designcouncil.org.uk/spark #DCSpark