In Design Meets Disability, Graham Pullin challenges the way society frames disability by questioning why assistive devices are often treated as purely functional rather than expressive. He argues that design for disability should not be limited to medical necessity, it should also include aesthetics, identity, and personal preference. What stood out to me is how Pullin highlights the quiet power imbalance in design: mainstream objects like glasses or smartphones have endless variations and styles, while many assistive tools remain clinical and uniform. This difference reveals how disability is still seen as something to “fix” instead of a natural part of human diversity.
Pullin pushes the reader to consider that assistive devices could be opportunities for creativity rather than reminders of limitation. For example, he discusses the possibility of hearing aids becoming fashionable accessories instead of devices people feel pressured to hide. His argument reframes disability not as a deficit but as a design space full of potential innovation.
Overall, the reading invites designers to rethink their assumptions. Instead of designing for disabled people, Pullin encourages designing with them, treating disability as a source of insight and richness. The book ultimately suggests that inclusive design is not just ethical, it also expands the possibilities of design itself.