Reading Response:
“Design Meets Disability” delves into a provocative reevaluation of how design interacts with disability, challenging the traditional ethos that design for disability should aim for invisibility and discretion. This text argues that such designs, exemplified by the Eameses’ leg splints and contemporary medical devices, need not shy away from aesthetics in pursuit of functionality. Instead, it suggests that these designs can embrace both, much like eyeglasses have evolved from mere medical necessity to fashion statements.
The core thesis of the book seems to be a call to shift perceptions—away from designing disability aids that blend in, towards creating products that stand out, empowering users and making a statement. This reflects a broader cultural shift in how disability and aids are perceived, a move from viewing them as merely corrective devices to seeing them as integral parts of one’s identity that can express personal style.
The examples of Hearwear and the work of designers like Sam Hecht and Ross Lovegrove underscore the potential for medical devices to be both functional and fashionable. The discussion extends to prosthetics, where figures like Aimee Mullins have not only redefined performance through innovative designs but have also challenged the very aesthetics of disability. Mullins, by using prosthetics that are visually striking, shifts the narrative from loss to empowerment.
The text critically engages with the notion of universal design and its practical applications. It reflects on the complexity inherent in designing products that are universally accessible yet simple and intuitive to use, a challenge that echoes through the design community.
“Design Meets Disability” advocates for a design philosophy that respects both function and fashion, which can transform products for disability into symbols of identity and empowerment. This approach doesn’t just serve the disabled community but enriches our cultural fabric, advocating for inclusivity and diversity in design practices. This reading fosters a deeper appreciation for the intersections between design, technology, and social values, urging us to reconsider our approach to disability not as a deficit to be concealed but as an aspect of human diversity to be celebrated.