Inspire Inclusion
This International Women’s Day, I wanted to explore 2024’s theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’ and how it can be applied to urban design and the places we create. This theme calls for people to promote diversity, challenge exclusion and inspire others to understand and value inclusion.
At edge, we Inspire Inclusion by championing and applying the principles of inclusive design throughout the design process. As urban designers, we have the power to shape our built environment and, therefore, have the responsibility to ensure we are contributing to the development of inclusive environments designed for real people in all their variability.
As a disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically ill woman, I have an extensive range of access needs and know the feeling of being excluded all too well. I have heard the phrase ‘well, we have to do what’s best for the majority of people here’ too many times to count. I have spent train journeys in pain, as the seats designed to provide lumbar support for the majority push my fused spine into a painful and unnatural position. I have sat back in frustration in a loud restaurant when I’ve realised there’s no point even trying to get involved in a group conversation that I can’t hear. Most recently, I have avoided leaving the house, not knowing how to manage chronic pain and fatigue in public spaces that are not designed for me.
When designing public spaces and new places, if we are not Inspiring Inclusion in the design process or designing with human diversity in mind, exclusion, whether intended or not, is inevitable. We need to stop thinking of inclusivity as optional or an afterthought; meeting access needs and creating inclusive environments should be the driving force of our designs.
No-one deserves to feel like their right to exist and participate in public spaces is optional. No-one deserves to feel like an afterthought or, worse, that their access needs were not even considered. No-one deserves to feel excluded. In this day and age, it is no longer good enough to be creating places with exclusive environments.
Ultimately, can we truly call the places we design people-focused if consideration is not given for all types of people and their individual needs?
What is Inclusive Design?
Human diversity is a fact of life and yet our public spaces are not always designed with this in mind. They do not consider the diverse ways in which people interact with and experience places. As a result, physical and social barriers are often created which exclude people from our so-called ‘public’ spaces.
Our view of good design is subjective and based on our own lived experience. Whilst a restaurant with outside seating that spills onto the footpath provides vitality and ambience to a public space, it presents a physical barrier to disabled people, the elderly and pushchair users. Equally, inadequately lit spaces which lack natural surveillance create an unsafe environment for women and other minority groups walking alone at night, presenting a social barrier to these public spaces.
Inclusive design is about creating places everyone can safely, equally, and independently use and aims to remove the barriers that create undue effort or separation. Rather than taking a one-size fits all approach, inclusive design involves putting human diversity at the forefront of the design process so that we can consider a range of human experiences, identify potential barriers, and create design solutions that are accessible and inclusive to all users.
The Design Council Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Design Council CABE) say the five principles of inclusive design are:
Inclusive design places people at the heart of the design process – involving minority groups in your design process is great way to ensure this.
Inclusive design acknowledges diversity and difference – if we can understand the diverse nature of people’s experiences, we can more effectively identify barriers to inclusion and overcome these.
Inclusive design offers choice where a single design solution cannot accommodate all users – it is not about creating one solution that accommodates everyone but providing diverse ways of participating with a space, so everyone is included.
Inclusive design provides for flexibility in use – places need to be designed so they can adapt to changing uses and demands.
Inclusive design provides buildings and environments that are convenient and enjoyable to use for everyone.
The Importance of Inclusive Design
Inclusive urban design plays a crucial role in making society more equitable and achieving equality, as we all have a right to our public spaces, but we do not currently have equal access. It can help create a sense of belonging, empowerment and form strong, vibrant, and sustainable communities.
We all benefit from inclusive design; it is in its nature. People’s access needs will change throughout their lifetime, even if simply as a tourist laden with bulky luggage. Disability can happen at any time in life, whether temporarily or permanently, either due to chronic illness, old age, or injury. Additionally, a large percentage of people will become parents in their lifetime and will need to navigate public spaces with a pushchair. Although most people may think inclusive design does not benefit them, almost all of us will feel the ramifications of not designing inclusively at some point in our future.
As an industry that is shaping our built environment for future generations, we need to challenge our assumptions, respect human diversity and Inspire Inclusion throughout the design process.
Written by Niamh
