Diversity

What is Inclusive Design you may wonder? Inclusive design Is a method of design thinking and designing mainstream products that are accessible to and usable by as many people as possible without the need for special adaptation or specialised design.  I chose to go to this lecture as I have always been interested in Smart Textiles and the potential they have to reach out to wider minority communities that are in need of them. I also wanted to gain an understanding of how these people live, and what fashion can do to enhance their daily life. As I was excited about the Better Lives Briefing on Diversity, Laura Salisbury’s lecture helped develop these ideas of how we can make the Fashion Industry a more inclusive place.

DESIGNERS

Throughout the lecture we delved into the world of designers who work inclusively within their designs and learnt about the people they make them for. Laura Salisbury is currently studying for a PhD and produces Smart Textiles to help the recovery of stroke survivors. As a 3D Effects for Performance and Fashion student, I began to think about the actors within my field that rely on inclusive designs so they can perform despite having a disability. This brought me back to the Better Lives theme of Diversity, as looking at societies outside the ‘Extreme User Circle’ (Myerson) breaks down the perception that we have of ‘the everyday consumer’ and questions us to look at the minorities who require inclusive design. Yves Behar, who designed the ‘Aura Power Suit’, was created to help a multitude of users by providing extra strength to the wearer using strengthening ‘hexagonal pads’ around the joint and main body area. This was particularly important within the elderly community, as they felt restricted and isolated due to having low mobility. However, wearing the suit allowed them to accomplish everyday activities, and also gave the ageing population hope. This is a clear example of how designing inclusively or designing for a specific group of people can make them feel included and looked after.

NEW DESIGN TOOLS

I found this particular part of the lecture fascinating as I’d gone through the education system only knowing one way to design; not knowing that there are better, more efficient ways of doing this. Salisbury introduced the ‘Double Diamond System’ (British Design Council 2008), whereby instead of starting in the middle of the design process at the ‘brief stage’, you take two steps back and focus on the ‘discover stage’, and this establishes who you want to design for, and how you can help them. This in turn gives the process a deeper value and a solution to the individuals problem. By using a very hands-on approach to consumer feedback (prototyping the design then letting the individual live with it, then providing feedback on the piece), it allows the person to feel in control and included in the project.    

In 2050, almost 70% of the population will be living in cities and towns, and because of this huge social shift, it is important to gain an understanding of these living conditions and how they impact the health and well-being of those people. Because of this lecture, I can now go through my design process with a greater understanding of how to design inclusively, in order to create an authentic, represented and catered for society.