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.
All research, writing and editorial design was done independently by me for university coursework.
The book contains many images from other designers/artists - but these have been clearly listed in the figures list.
