An Overlay for Designing Inclusively

Lamirande, Maxim and Alexiou, Katerina (2025). An Overlay for Designing Inclusively. In: Goodman-Jean, Joy; Zitkus, Emilene; Brock, Anke; Clarkson, John; Dong, Hua; Heylighen, Ann and Lazar, Jonathan eds. New Frontiers for Inclusion (cwuaat2025 2025). Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology. Cham, CH: Springer, pp. 169–179.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-84681-6_15

Abstract

Inclusively designing public buildings, spaces, services, and products is shrouded in different conceptualisations from both theory and practice. Our understandings of inclusion are unsettled, complex, and sometimes contradictory, or simply too utopic. This leads to issues in its uptake within real-world practice despite a growing interest in greater inclusion, accessibility, equality, and diversity. This paper presents a tool that was devised to overlay practitioners’ current project development processes and provide recommendations and insights that function independently from one another. The overlay was built by drawing on theoretical concepts which were explored, evolved and tested through interviews with practitioners who explained how inclusion is central to their practices. Practitioner experiences stem from a range of design and architectural practices such as UXUI, manufacturing design, architecture for large scale hospitality, residential and public service buildings, interior design, and event planning. Their testimonials helped to form key conceptualisations about inclusive practice that are laid across the design process. To further assess the transferability of concepts across a wide range of practices, additional practitioners from varying disciplines and degrees of experience with inclusion also evaluated the overlay. The tool is intended to be used as a companion in the design process. Practitioners are encouraged to take on what suits their own practices and experiences.

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