Chapter 10 Contemporary themes in the design of AT for the ageing population: materiality, co-design and cultural in- fluences Gabriella Spinelli 1 , Massimo Micocci 2 , Emmanuel Tsekleves 3 , Yu-Han Wang 4 , Wendy Martin 5 , Yonghun Lim 6 and Umber Shamim 7 1 Brunel University London, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Science, Kingston Ln, London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH e-mail: gabriella.spinelli@brunel.ac.uk 2 Imperial College London, NIHR London In Vitro Diagnostics Co-op, Department of Surgery & Cancer, QEQM Building, St Mary’s Campus, Praed Street, London W2 1PE e-mail: m.micocci@imperial.ac.uk 3 ImaginationLancaster, LICA Building, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK e-mail: e.tsekleves@lancaster.ac.uk 4 National Taipei University of Business, College of Innovation Management, Department of Product Innovation and Entrepreneurship, No. 100, Sec. 1, Fulong Rd., Pingzhen Dist., Taoyuan City 324, Taiwan (R.O.C.) e-mail: wangyuhan@ntub.edu.tw 5 Brunel University London, College of Health and Life Sciences, Kingston Ln, London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH e-mail: wendy.martin@brunel.ac.uk 6 Bournemouth University, P301, Poole House, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB e-mail: ylim@bournemouth.ac.uk 7 Brunel University London, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Science, Kingston Ln, London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH e-mail: umber.shamim@brunel.ac.uk Abstract. Products we purchase are much more than artefacts that fulfil functional needs in our life. We have grown to enact our consumer choices, even those regarding fast moving consum- able goods, with careful considerations informed by numerous trials, recommendations and, growingly, environmental concerns in mind. Advanced manufacturing and progress in research and development are providing more choices for consumers even in quite specific and complex product markets. An exemption to this market trend is represented by assistive technologies (ATs). This is a relatively underdeveloped context despite the growing demands for assistive