Sinead Burke says that the experience of moving through an airport inhibits her ‘autonomy and her independence’. The beginning of her TED Talk Why design should include everyone is a retelling of her airport trip from Dublin to New York, and the safety issues and limitations of a 105 centimeter person. Discussing public restrooms we hear about lock height and the options available to Burke to close the lock in a stall. Accessible bathroom stalls are easier for her to navigate, but the toilets are built deliberately taller than normal for wheelchair patrons to use. This leads to the question of accessibility, and exactly who the access is being designed for, and who is being excluded by the design.
The process of ordering coffee, finding clothes that are functional but reflect Sinead’s personality, or even sitting on a chair are all different when she uses the equipment that’s designed for the average consumer. Sinead Burke is an energetic and engaging speaker who uses humor and sass to convey the idea that design needs a new perspective. She challenges the idea that design needs to find a balance between form and function. Burke says instead that design is a connection between a person and their world and environment. When the needs of sections of society aren’t considered, design can make those people vulnerable.
This talk ends with an incredible idea – ‘design is an enormous privilege, but it is a bigger responsibility.’ Burke challenges us to think about our designs and who we are excluding when we design new systems, processes or services. Full accessibility in design goes beyond the engineering training we get in ergonomics, work design and human factors.
(Cover Image and article image courtesy of Creative Commons)