Transcript for EO403 - What is Inclusive Design.PDF

Graduate Apprenticeship - Engineering Design and Manufacture Class: EO403 - Design for X What is Inclusive Design In this video, we're going to talk about inclusive design. So what is inclusive design? It is comprehensive, integrated design which encompasses all aspects of a product used by consume...

Graduate Apprenticeship - Engineering Design and Manufacture Class: EO403 - Design for X What is Inclusive Design In this video, we're going to talk about inclusive design. So what is inclusive design? It is comprehensive, integrated design which encompasses all aspects of a product used by consumers of diverse age and capability and a wide range of contexts, throughout the whole product's lifecycle, from its conception to its final disposal. Its ultimate goal is to meet the needs of all such consumers, and it is based on the principle that appropriate access to information, products, and facilities is a fundamental human right. In other, words inclusive design is about designing products to suit all consumers. Inclusive design can be referred to a number of other terms. It is also known as design for all, trans-generational design covering all generations of consumers, barrier-free design, design for disability, universal access, and universal design. So who do designers exclude when designing? Well, quite often, a product can be developed for a particular target market and exclude others, for example, technology-related articles and items. A smartwatch might not be suitable for the elderly who might not be familiar with technology. Also, they may not be able to read the numbers or the digits or the hands on a particular small watch. So again, when designers are designing for a particular target market, they often exclude other people. Who do designers stereotype when designing? Often, when designing a particular item will be developed and designed for a particular group. Aids for disability often fall into this category where implements for eating, for forks, knives, and so on look very much like a tool for those who have limited ability rather than a tool which all can use. So can designers include a broader range of people's needs in the design of everyday things? We're now going to look at the contexts for inclusive design. There are three-the social and biological, the commercial, and the legal. There are three categories within social and biological-social attitudes, understanding of disabilities, and changing demographics. These contexts are also the drivers for inclusive design. So first of all, looking at social attitudes, attitudes and perceptions are changing. They are changing now in relation to aging and disability. We are all living longer, and elderly people are not considered to be frail and helpless. Many are taking up activities. Many are carrying on with work much longer than previously. So first of all, we need to understand the disabilities. We need to get to know more about them. With age, people change physically, mentally, and psychologically, and people are living much longer. For most people, these changes involve multiple, minor impairments in things such as eyesight, Page 1/2 hearing, dexterity, mobility, and in memory. Changing demographics is also an important area, for example, age. The population in Great Britain is living longer. The percentage of older people in Great Britain has been rising since the mid-20th century until today. And it's expected to rise further. The number of people aged 65 and over since the mid-century until today has risen by about 8%. 75 and over has risen by 5%. And those living 85 and over has risen by 2%. So people are living longer, much longer. And this also has an impact on the commercial aspect. Changing age and demographics is relevant to commerce. Now we have a greater number over 65. And this means we have greater disposable income in the over 65 group. These people have money to spend. Their expendable income is higher, and they also have free time as the majority of them will have retired. Companies that restrict their consumer offering to a younger market will be obliged to trade in a contracting marketplace. There are less young people, and there are now more older people-a big market. There is, therefore, a strong business case to respond to the demographic change, which we are seeing, with proactive, market-driven entrepreneurship. Looking at the final aspect-the legal aspect. We now live in a day and age of progress in terms of international human rights law. Everyone, regardless of age, ability, gender, and race, has the right to equal opportunity. And this is the key thing that underpins inclusive design. Various countries are at different stages in terms of their disability legislation. The USA is possibly the most progressive. And this relates back to the civil rights movement, in the US Constitution, and the actions that were taken following the Vietnam War. Japan is also a very early adopter of disability legislation. And the UK is positioned fairly highly in terms of being progressive in terms of their disability legislation within Europe. For further information on the UK's disability legislation, you can refer to the link on my place. So to sum up, inclusive design is to design products, equipment, and services that meet the needs of most people where possible without the need for specialised adaptations. And this is one of the key aspects-without the need for specialised adaptations. I'd like to finish this particular video with a key text that's available in the university library. The text is called Inclusive Design: Design for the Whole Population. This book contains a wealth of information on contexts, approaches, inclusive design methods and might be a very good source of further information for you. Page 2/2