Papanek called on designers to design for disabled people and to involve them in the design process. He also argued that designers need to be aware of the cultural context of their work. Annemiek van Boeijen designed a sports wheelchair and works in the field of ‘Culture Sensitive Design’ .
Why do women die more frequently from heart attacks? Why are women seriously injured more frequently in a road accident? Why are women more frequently hospitalized after falling when there’s snow on the ground? Spoiler alert: it’s not down to the women.
The book Design for the Real World opens with the statement that few professions are more harmful than that of industrial designer. This podcast from the 99% Invisible team makes the point painfully clear. Medical protocols for dealing with cardiac arrest, the crash-test dummies used to measure vehicle safety and even the way roads are cleared of snow have all been developed with men in mind. With fatal consequences for women.
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Most people don’t have to think twice about using a public toilet. But for transgender people it’s a different story. Discover the history behind the design of public restrooms and find out how the future of the inclusive toilet might look.
This five-minute podcast offers a neat survey of Victor Papanek’s work. Alison J. Clarke, the exhibition’s co-curator, discusses Papanek’s life, his critique of American consumer culture and his social influence.