An evaluation of Innovation Unlocked – Cell furniture to improvesafer custody and to catalyse innovation in prison industries project

DACRC delivered a participatory design approach, involving prisoners, prison staff, ex-offenders,experts and specialists from HMPPS Prison Industries, specialist designers and design researchersand Central Saint Martins (CSM) graduate designers and students. This process ultimately produceda range of product outputs, material recommendations, design resources and a digital researcharchive.Research was concurrently conducted by the Institute for Community Research and Development.

Evaluation report 1 (Caulfield & Jolly, March 2020) presented detailed findings about the processand impact of taking part in a collaborative design approach, for both prisoners and prison staff andprovided evidence about the successes and challenges of embarking on such an approach within theprison system. This current report provides a template for future data collection and recommends that this beimplemented alongside the introduction of the new furniture designs in order to understand theireffectiveness and impact, linked to the furniture’s contribution to improving safety, security andwellbeing. It is vital that HMPPS collect evidence to show whether the designs are viable, feasible,and desirable in social, economic, and environmental terms.