Documentation_IxR_Lewandowski

IxR
Secondary Research
Focus group
I started to develop my concept with an idea of enabling people with disabilities to feel more
independent and travel on their own, especially people in wheelchairs. People need improved
mobility solutions when they are struggling with the access to private and public transportation.
But a general question is who will we be designing for in the future?
These are not only older people and people with disabilities. At some point during any activity, every
person experiences some form of limitation in ability. These can be: medical injury, unfamiliarity
with a product or environment, lack of understanding as a foreigner, or physical attributes like
height or size.
LOW
HIGH
STRETCH
MOBILITY
VISION
HEARING
Creating a solution for only one disabled group would exclude other people from the use of the
product. That’s why I decided to create a design solution for everyone using the Universal Design
Principles.
VOICE
COGNITION
I decided to pick a representative group of people with special needs which are people in
wheelchairs. They are restricted in their mobile opportunities.
I will mainly work with the focus group “People in Wheelchairs” but also consider the Universal
Design Principles in order to include as many people as possible into my concept.
My concept will help anybody to create their mobile and individual space.
People in wheelchairs don’t feel independent. They always depend on somebody to take them out.
They cannot move independently, stop everywhere and explore, visit their families and friends or do
very simple tasks like shopping if they want to purchase bigger items like furniture. They are
restricted in their possibilities and are neglected by the designers of everyday services. They have to
signal from below to be noticed by the receptionist behind the counter, they are not always able to
withdraw money at ATMs because they cannot reach the interface surface, they don’t have the
flexibility to go by bus because they have to compete with mothers with strollers for the only one
accessible spot on the bus.
The experts report that in India for instance there is no way for people with disabilities to travel.
People in wheelchairs travel by car with hand controls. They break down their wheelchairs and put
them into the trunk. They crawl through the trunk or along the doors to the driver’s seat. As a
result, they leave a lot of scratches on their cars. The car is always dirty as are the hands of disabled
people. Even if it is possible for some of them to travel on their own, it is very hard and sometimes
frustrating.
Sofia Lewandowski | MFA Interaction Design | College for Creative Studies | Detroit