Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

We launched a University course called “Design For Care” on Critical Disability Studies and Design Research in the Autumn Semester in 2017. During the course, the relation with disabilities was primarily determined by a specific circle of children from Budapest III at the Csillagház Primary School, which operates in Budapest and educates and teaches children with multiple disabilities. During the semester we worked with young disabled children who were living with life-limiting and life-threatening impairments. The experience made us rethink how we use words such as “valued,” “quality,” “life,” and “living.” In cooperation with the staff of Csillagház, we showed design paths for the students, which would cover the main areas of therapy and education at the primary school, helping to expand and make these areas more efficient. The disabled students of Csillagház often were not able to articulate their experiences sufficiently, or we could also misinterpret them. The question of integrating some certain kind of knowledge called for interdisciplinary cooperation among designers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and families of persons with disabilities among many others. During the semester-long course, designer students were inspired by the disability awareness and sensitisation training, the integrated theoretical studies, and the personal experience of visiting the school and getting in contact with multiple disabled children. Each student had to develop a design in the chosen area of body rehabilitation, communication design, or adaptive art tools and equipment.