Getting Into Inclusive Design

Lynsey Robinson (Inclusive design)

I wonder sometimes how anyone gets into inclusive design?

This year I attended the New Designers exhibition in Islington, London, and I have to say I was rather disappointed in the work. It was my fifth year of visiting the show and I felt that I had seen the same stuff every year and was by now a little bored and very uninspired.

The magic thing about design for me is how it can inspire, solve problems and really make differences to peoples lives, but it seems that not many students are interested in this. This is not the case for all the exhibitors at New Designers, however. I would like to thank the few students I spoke to who had considered their work in a wider context and tried to make a difference, people who were really passionate about this and not afraid to show it.

Unfortunately at college these folk would have been seen as the uncool. Designing a product for the elderly? How would that get you into Elle Decoration?

So, how do you encourage people to care?

As a graduate who cares about their work and feels that they have the talent and skills to be a good designer is there anywhere for them to go?

Since this year's graduation I have received emails through our website from graduates wishing to pursue a career in inclusive design. This I find extremely encouraging, although I am having a little trouble giving them answers. This is a wider problem, on one side we have eager designers wanting to design, create and improve products and services, then over the other side we have users crying out for these products and services, and still we are left with a large gap in the middle. Industry. Are these things not cool enough? Do they not make enough money? Is it all a misunderstanding?

I believe people have not fully grasped the meaning of inclusive design, the millions of reasons why it should be done, and the fact that it can indeed be very cool. I believe people are still seeing it as the niche areas it used to be set in (i.e. designing for the disabled - a specific product or service for the disabled or elderly that shines like a beacon making it stand out and look different, just the sort of thing you’d like.)

What I am after is inclusive design, design that includes all, gives everyone a good experience. This means design that's exciting, cutting edge, can embrace new technology and materials, solves problems, communicates understanding of wider issues, and reaches a massive market. (Where there’s money to spend for the products and services that so far have only been a dream). And if that’s not sexy enough I don’t know what is!

So I put it to all of you that you actively encourage the use of inclusive design.

• If you work in a related industry go to your local college and get involved in a project.
• If you know of a product or service that you and others could really benefit from then write to your local college and get the students to take it up as a project.
• If you lecture or tutor in a college get your students actively involved in the issues around inclusive design, work with local groups to user test products etc.
• If you are a student explore the world of inclusivity, get your fellow students to do the same, ask your tutor to get a lecture on it.
• Whoever you are and whatever you do start thinking, start opening up your world and letting everyone in, this is what inclusive design can do.

If you want to know more about inclusive design look further through our web site and others mentioned below, this should show you the possibilities and desirability for designing in this way.

Further information:

• This site!
• Helen Hamlyn Research Centre
• The Design Council

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