From margin to mainstream - inclusive design making waves

This paper reports on the development of the two sides of the design education equation – student and tutor. The student perspective is viewed primarily through the lens of the RSA’s Europe-wide design competition Inclusive Worlds (part of the RSA’s Design Directions programme – www.rsadesigndirections.org), which has encouraged students to produce a range of products, services and environments to enhance everyday living. The tutor’s perspective is viewed primarily through the lens of the Inclusive Design Curriculum Network, a Thematic Network funded by the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission (IDCnet at www.idcnet.info). From both perspectives – tutor and student – specific outcomes have emerged: new teaching materials, modules, and courses on inclusive design or which advocate the principles and methodologies of inclusive design; new products coming to market which have embedded within them the principles of inclusive design; and a new generation of professionals, now in practice and influencing mainstream design. Recommendations are made for successful educational practice which leads to successful professional practice

Coming of age - an inclusive design resource comes to fruition

In July 2004, the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) launched a unique tool to aid everyone interested in inclusive design – an informative and user-friendly, accessible website: www.theRSA.org.uk/inclusivedesign. This resource came to fruition following early stages of development undertaken by the i~design project team (Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, Design Council, University of Cambridge and the London Institute) funded by the EPSRC. The RSA then took on and funded the implementation under the aegis of an international steering committee and working with Wire Design on the technical and visual development. This paper will map the painstaking steps that led to the achievement of this resource, making it as accessible, inclusive and usable as possible – always putting the user at the centre of each stage. It will indicate what the Steering Committee aimed to achieve with the resource and what the future plans are for its further development and dissemination. Feedback on the resource is very welcome and delegates to Include are invited to provide this to the RSA