I enjoyed this week’s reading because accessibility is a point that is always brought up when we speak of design and interactivity, whether it was last week’s readings about pictures-under-glass or a broader discussion about the simplicity of design. In this day and age, technological advancements are designed to be so simple that even a toddler could use them. I think instead of simplicity, the foremost thought should be accessibility. In modern design, accessibility is always an afterthought, a sort of ‘add-on’ to an existing design, that often looks unwieldy and takes away from the appearance of the original design. Another reason I strongly believe in everything being accessible instead of simply having accessible alternatives is that I have seen many disabled voices online speak of how having to use ‘alternatives’ is one of the many ways they feel other-ed by society. If everyone, abled or disabled, used the same interfaces and designs, we would be one step closer to a truly inclusive community.
I also love the discussion about the intersection of fashion and accessibility. I, personally, am unsure where I stand on this – I agree in the sense that good design is simple, and that simplicity goes hand-in-hand with universality. However, as someone who is fond of all things camp, a part of me doesn’t agree that all design should direct towards being simple. In fact, I believe that d in design can still be for disability, whilst still exploring aesthetics to their fullest potential.