This week, Part 2 Graphic Communication students completed the inclusive design component of their integrated design modules. Building on the series of workshops (see BdB blog) we did earlier in the term and relevant readings, on Monday, students presented seminar papers to their peers on particular aspects of inclusive design.

 

 

Students discussed and debated, aspects such as:

• The principles of inclusive design and how designers can make these achievable in real life projects
• How design briefs often tend to create segregation and how designers can develop more inclusive solutions to briefs
• The clear print debate – what the guidelines are, who they are for and how implementing these can differ for professional designers and everyday communicators
• The challenges and key considerations of inclusive design for screen – including the use of colour, images, sound and navigation
• Key debates and typographic research for inclusive design for children’s reading, focusing on readers who may have dyslexia or visual impairments
• Inclusive wayfinding – including challenges and innovative proposals for solutions in contemporary design practice.

Students commented that the inclusive design workshops, readings and seminars they have done have helped them become “more consciously aware” of how important it is to consider inclusive design in their own work and how designers may have to take responsibility for designing inclusively for a range of users. The highlighted how it is important to realise that the people they are designing for are probably “not the same as you (the designer)” and that inclusive design is “not just being aware” but about embedding inclusive practices in our industry. They also noted that these seminars had made them aware that there is “not enough research” about inclusive design within our discipline.