Design Research: Design & Disability
" How do designers use semiotics to represent disabled people in their work? "
This is the question I asked myself at the start of my 3rd year of uni; it was something I had often noticed as a disabled designer. I explored this in depth for my "Critical and Contextual Studies". My design report looked at:
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The history of the wheelchair symbol, including those who challenge it and the many proposed alternatives.
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The branding of disability focused media campaigns and charities.
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The disabled artists and designers who are defining what it means to be disabled and using their work to fight for social change.
I made this report into an 80-page, full colour book. This is a flip-through of the physical outcome; I also have a PDF available for anyone wanting to read it in full.
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All research, writing and editorial design was done independently by me for university coursework.
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The book contains many images from other designers/artists - but these have been clearly listed in the figures list.
