Design Meets Disability
Reading this text about design meets disability has been eye-opening for me as a designer. It reminds me of the struggle to find the right balance between making products functional, looking good, and fitting in socially.
One thing that stood out to me was the idea of the “flying submarine,” which means adding too many features to a product. I’ve faced this problem before, where trying to include everything makes designs too complicated and less effective. It’s interesting to see how James Leckey’s approach of focusing on specific designs instead of trying to please everyone addresses this problem. I wonder how this idea could apply to other kinds of designs, not just those for disabilities.
I also found the examples of the iPod shuffle and the wall-mounted CD player interesting. They show how simplicity can make products easier to use, even if it means losing some features. I’ve struggled with this balance in my own work—how do we decide which features are really necessary and which ones we can leave out?
As a designer, this text reminds me to think more about how my designs can meet everyone’s needs while still being creative. How do we make sure our designs work for everyone? It’s a challenge I’m excited to take on, and I look forward to learning more about inclusive design.