Hi there! 👋
I was reading Graham Pullin‘s “Design Meets Disability”, and found it pretty good. There were so many great examples and points showcased throughout it, in neat little sections, and I like how he treats disability in the context of design, not as something to deal with purely technically (entirely function, no form), but rather as a source of inspiration to create more personalised and human designs.
I was particularly fascinated with the example of eyeglasses. They were initially quite utilitarian objects, only serving to help correct someone’s vision. In line with this (“disability”), they were designed to not draw much attention, with the NHS using pink plastic to sort of camouflage against the skin. That didn’t work particularly well. Not only were they visible, but they also led to a stereotype and a dislike for wearing them, making those who need to wear them potentially feel ashamed and humiliated. Then, they were fashionised. By moving away from this utilitarian and functional only approach, into designing something that also looked great, the industry, and the perception of eyeglasses, were revolutionized.
“up to 20% of some brands of glasses are purchased with clear nonprescription lenses, […] wearing glasses has become an aspiration rather than a humiliation.”
While I do dislike the overly fashion focused industry that has propped up around this, I also recognise that it has made eyeglasses a lot more approachable and comfortable for those who need it, so I am genuinely curious as to why more industries and product design don’t adopt the philosophies mentioned here, particularly about design.
This also reminds me the phenomenon (which we have also previously seen), where things that look better, work better. As I’m most involved in the tech sphere, I can I’ve definitely seen and noticed this effect directly, where even though an app or website might have an amazing functionality, if it doesn’t look appealing, its likely going to be perceived as subpar, and likely isn’t going to go very far (though of course, there are exceptions). This is why in tech, there’s very often a designer on board each team as well. In some cases (such as in 37signals), there’s a 1:1 ratio, as 1 designer and 1 programmer are paired up to work on a feature, highlighting just how important design is.
I also found the story about prosthetics similarly inspiring. While I understand the motive behind not fracturing an already small market, there is something nice to know, that multiple, well designed options exist, allowing someone to be more expressive and confident (something people with disabilities might have a harder time with).