Collaboration with the design profession has focused on the annual DBA Inclusive Design Challenge organised with the Design Business Association - 23 case studies from this programme are featured here.
Its central feature is the teaming up of design firms with disabled users to work on a lifestyle-oriented brief over an extensive period of several weeks. The disabled users are chosen deliberately to challenge assumptions within the design team.
The programme started in 2000 and as it became established, requests came in for more compact versions and specialist Challenge Workshops for individual companies or projects. Now workshops are individually tailored to both commercial and academic contexts, with challenges being organised around the world, in collaboration with, for example, the British Council. The focus is on co-design through close working with users, and on the transfer of knowledge and techniques from the centre and from designers who have been through the experience.
Though the main goal of these design collaborations goal is to change thinking and practice and build engagement within the design industry, the Challenge Workshops are also leading to new products and increasing the demand for inclusive design at the corporate level. This group of case studies is organised to demonstrate how inclusive design can shift thinking and practice across the full range of design disciplines.
In communication design, the projects have looked inward: at how designers work, to ensure that graphic communications are visually inclusive - a growing problem for ageing populations - and help dyslexic designers document and present their thinking processes. They have also looked outward: at changing the way older and disabled people are perceived, helping young adults with special educational needs learn for themselves, and at signage, and labelling and coding packaging. Each of the seven case studies demonstrates original thinking inspired by an empathic engagement with ‘critical’ users.
In spatial design, three projects explore ways in which an activity like shopping and taking a bus, or an environment like a city square can be made more enjoyable for us all. In each case the inspiration came from the users and one of the projects acknowledges this in its title.
In product design, there is a growing focus on user-friendliness, as overly complex technology-driven products are increasingly rejected by consumers as too hard to use. However, much of this focus is driven by guidelines and designers assuming that if a product works for themselves and their friends it will be easy for anyone to use. Not only is this untrue, but if designers avoid working with users they also miss out on important triggers and ‘hooks’ for innovative thinking. Eleven product proposals presented here share a commitment to ease-of-use through innovation.
In fashion and textiles, an industry seminar at the RCA in 1994 flagged up the importance of older women in particular as a core market for fashion and clothing. But it has taken companies like Marks & Spencer a long time to recognise that trend and work on attracting older consumers into their stores. Another untapped market opportunity could be young disabled people who want to look good in clothes that work for them. Two of our case studies address this issue in remarkably creative ways, by using clever labelling systems and ‘smart’ materials to deliver functionality and accessibility with style.
