Ventures Inclusive Design Day Debrief

Sometimes I feel that the more I care about the topic of a project or event, the harder it is to talk about it in public. Does anyone else feel the same?

On Saturday, 16 November, Sol Willian and I ran our first event on Inclusive Design. It was a day of workshops, discussions, and networking, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives. The challenge? How can we create solutions that work for everyone, no matter their physical or cognitive abilities?

It was amazing to see such an engaged group willing to share and learn. Honestly, we could’ve talked all day! Special thanks to our guest speakers, April Lea, Dave Ingerson and  Theia Gabatan, for making the discussions even better.
 

Even though I organise events all the time, organising this one made me notice a few basic things that I usually do not consider such as:

• Check if the lifts are accessible 24/7 for wheelchair users and students, rather than assuming they are
• Doors should be designed as tools to open spaces, not obstacles to navigate. Check how heavy the doors are in the space you're hosting, ensuring they are accessible for everyone, especially those with permanent or hidden disabilities
• Starting early (8:30/9am – a normal time for a Hackathon) isn’t great with limited weekend public transport
• Some chairs look nice and are very stylish but aren’t comfortable for everyone.
• We need to talk more about using plain English to design and build truly inclusive solutions.

Highlight: One of the most beautiful moment was when I saw Sophie Mensforth and Dave Ingerson drafting the prototype of a rain cover together. This happened after everyone else had left, reaffirming that sometimes all we need is the right space to connect with the right person.

Despite all the challenges—health, timing, everything else—it all came together thanks to Sol Williams and everyone who supported us particularly to: Tomas Piccinini, Marie Louise Pollmann-Larsen (and everyone involved in the design of the Ability Cards!), Pete Horsley, Sophy Barlow, David Elchuk, Felix Hall, and Gav Parry.

I can't wait to learn more about Universal and Inclusive Design, and run more events and projects like this next year!