THE UMBRELLA: INCLUSIVE DESIGN Every design decision presents itself with an opportunity to either include or exclude people. “Inclusive Design is the design of products and or services that are accessible to as many people as possible without the need for special adaptation.” (Clarkson, Coleman, Hosking, Waller, 2007)
PREFACE Inclusive design came about through the “growing realization that disability arises not within the individual, due to impaired capability, but is a result of environments, products and services that fail to take into account the needs and capabilities of all potential users.” (Coleman, Kreates, Lebbon, 2003, p. 1) Although the academic terms “disabled” and “elderly” are often used to refer to those in a distinct group outside of the mainstream population, people are starting to recognize that age and disability is something that is a part of the human experience. The changing attitudes formed around this new realization triggered a shift in the design process, moving away from specially designed solutions and assistive devices, towards a increasing accessibility and creating a framework for a more inclusively designed society. The need for a change in framework calls for new approaches to the design process, new strategies for practice, and new research methods to help designers respond more appropriately to the needs of an ever-increasing range of diverse users. As products become increasingly more intelligent, designers began to realize that user-centered interface design needed more development. As a result, the emphasis when designing a product shifted from harder, technical and functional performance factors, towards a softer, more emotional engagement, lifestyle and aspirations. This all prompted a greater shift away from a assistive, problem-solving emphasis on ‘design for disability’, and placed it firmly within the margins of design practice that focused on destigmatising aspects of designs that promote social integration. (Coleman, Kreates, Lebbon, 2003, p. 8)