Design(ing) for more – towards a global design approach and local methods

Abstract

The general terminology regarding inclusive design is not always as inclusive and global compared to its goals and ambitions. Design thinking often struggles with this confusion. Universal Design (UD), Inclusive Design (ID) and Design for All (DfA), are synonyms for design and designing with attention for inclusion. The terminology and definitions are various and it is not so clear how to interpret inclusive design during the design process. Theoreticians and practitioners often consider it in a different way. These differences may stimulate design confusion. This paper gives a historical and theoretical overview of the global terminology and zooms in on different views upon the implementation of inclusive insights during the design process. The idea is raised that we need a global inclusive design attitude as well as descriptive local design methods that can change according to the specific social, cultural, cognitive and physical features of the actual place and context. Without the need for new terminology, a global attitude with local methods is intended in order to obtain more sustainability in every respect.