2021.09.24
Julia Cassim "The Importance of Process Design in Inclusive Design"
A special feature called "Body / Clothing & Function," featuring robot and prosthetic limb researcher Ken Endo from Xiborg Inc. This time, we welcome inclusive design researcher Julia Cassim.
Starting from the concept of inclusive design, the dialogue encompasses recent changes in awareness around diversity and SDGs, challenges in industry initiatives, and more.
PROFILE
Julia Cassim
Julia Cassim is a special appointed professor at Kyoto Institute of Technology, a fellow at the Royal College of Art (RCA), and a world-renowned authority in inclusive design. She was an art columnist for the Japan Times from 1984 to 1999, then joined the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at RCA from 2000 to 2014. Since May 2014, she has been at Kyoto Institute of Technology, contributing to the establishment of KYOTO Design Lab. In 2010, she was selected by DesignWeek magazine's Hot50 as one of the most influential people in the design world.
Process Design & Facing Users
The Basics of Inclusive Design
CassimFirst, the word "inclusive" means "to include." No matter how much design tries, inherent exclusion is possible.
The most fundamental aspect of inclusive design is considering how to address various levels of physical diversity—diversity of the body, mental diversity, and even linguistic diversity. The design of the process itself becomes crucial to make designs that various people can enjoy and be satisfied with. In any project, I always start by thinking about how to design the process to achieve the desired result.
EndoWhen did the term inclusive design start to be used?
CassimThe term was first used around 1997 in a meeting report by Roger Coleman, who was my boss during my time at RCA.
At that time, the term universal design was also in use, but many designers disliked it. While "universal" implies that it is enjoyable and usable by everyone, no matter how excellent the design, not everyone will enjoy it. Because of this unrealistic expression, the term "inclusive" emerged as a more accurate term.
EndoFor better or worse, compared to the costs associated with mass production and mass consumption processes, inclusive design seems to incur higher costs by addressing individual diversity. How does inclusive design approach this economic rationale?
CassimThat is a common question. If carefully designing the process itself leads to better results, these good results tend to last longer. Additionally, design mistakes are drastically reduced. In that sense, inclusive design, by reducing mistakes, can be more economical in the long run and more sustainable.
Prostheses & Users' Self-Image
CassimI think it varies depending on the type and extent of the disability, but all parents of children with disabilities clearly feel the issues with the design of special equipment. In other words, the products are unusable and ugly. Whether it's for their own child or in interactions with other disabled people, they see daily how insensitive designs impact users' everyday lives.
My daughter Lyra (a graphic designer who uses a wheelchair) wore extremely heavy and ugly boots with metal in them when she was little. Looking at those boots, I wondered who would approve such outdated and bad design and felt they negatively impacted the image of the user. They weren't stylish, and others couldn't see the humanity of the user. I felt very angry about why such products were accepted.
One thing that really interested me was distinguishing between things worn directly on the body, like clothes, and things that exist separately from the body in the world of disabled people. For example, even if the design of a wheelchair is bad, it doesn't affect the user's image since the blame is on the wheelchair. However, if it's something like an orthosis that becomes part of the body, it significantly impacts the self-image.
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