embrace inclusivity!

The session centered around Sarah Hendren’s design works for the physically marginalized communities, put into perspective, often discussed narratives regarding the functionality, moreover the more distinguished, humanistic purposes of design. Hendren, an artist, design researcher, and writer who teaches design for disability at Olin College of Engineering, employs readily available objects to create designs that serve as aids to the physically marginalized, differently-abled communities.
Among the most intriguing examples of a certain sense of heroism induced in design through the use of commonplace material to project design as saviors are Hendren’s prosthetic hand and ramps in places of stairs, where the design takes upon the pivotal role of empowering the body. It is essential here to understand the humanistic thought process behind Hendren’s work, rather than merely the features of her design, that infer variation as normalcy and its acceptance as an element within society. Once one embraces that definition of disability that makes its existence a partial indictment of the social environment, then the word is not easily uncoupled from shame.
This session, revolving primarily around variation and differences, moreover the normalization of it, helped to reminisce an event I attended a few years back, during a residential conference about leadership. The event was a buffet dinner arranged by the Young Leaders Conference in affiliation with the School of Leadership, for all attendees, where upon arrival, either the hands, feet, or eyes of each individual were tied with cloth, stripping away that particular ability. Upon entering the dining hall, now struggling to manage to feed themselves independently, a group of over a hundred strangers came together to form a system where each person worked with their capabilities alongside assistance from others. Those with their hands tied narrated out instructions to those who had blindfolds on, while those with their legs tied helped feed the others. Together a systematic process was devised where each individual contributed according to their capabilities, whereby co-dependence and mutual coordination were heavily relied upon. Towards the end of the session, a room full of teary-eyed teenagers and a newfound sense of empathy filled the room. Although this example does not particularly describe a product based design, it explains the significance of empathy within individuals to normalize what persists as a societal stigma to date.
Although Hendren’s designs appear to symbolize a sense of heroism in design, it is her philosophy that bears considerable weightage, prioritizing people in the center rather than emphasizing on the technology, where the primary cause of making things is to make things happen.
During this session, I took away a few eminently humanistic narratives and anecdotes, and how those ideologies may translate into design. Based on her philosophies, when designers take upon the task of creating technology with the user at the center, prioritizing their needs, and promoting inclusivity, engineering manifests well within the social context. Similarly, an essential point to be marked is that of feasibility, to make devised technology readily available for the intended users. Hendren’s use of commonplace material makes her designs more accessible and affordable. From communication to products and environments, Hendren’s work spans no bounds. As a whole, her practice is about re-contextualizing disability and transitioning towards a society where differences are celebrated.
Similarly, I believe what surpasses the bounds of engineering and technology, what extends beyond societal capitalist constructs, is a more significant motive of inclusivity, which pivots around a humanistic, all-inclusive approach to not just design, but also the way of thinking.