Design Meets Disability

Citation

Jepson, J. (2012), "Design Meets Disability", Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 303-303. https://doi.org/10.1108/17549451211285807

This book provides a fascinating look at the world of design for disability that challenges many preconceptions within the professions of medical engineering, rehabilitation, occupational therapy and prosthetics to name but a few. The book required me, an occupational therapist (OT), to consider the purpose and meaning of the equipment and technologies used by people with disabilities but also made me think long and hard about social, political and economic issues as well as choice, aesthetics and art.

The author has worked within two distinct cultures, first as a medical engineer in a multi‐professional team designing new and innovative assistive technologies, before gaining an MDes at the Royal College of Art and working as a senior interaction designer at IDEO. This combination of understanding and experience has allowed Graham to sensitively explore topics that may sit in the “too difficult” pile such as critical design, design that makes us think rather than solves problems, as applied to design for disability. The first seven chapters challenge common assumptions about the tensions and encounters between fashion and discretion (a particular favourite of mine, exploring and solving, simple and universal, identity and ability) (another favourite as an OT), the provocative and the sensitive, feeling and testing and finally expression and information. The final part of the book looks at the contribution leading designers might make to specific areas of medical design, for example, Cutler and Gross who design stylish and sought after spectacles and hearing aids.

This book is a delight to read, it is accessible and easy to understand whilst raising thought provoking issues that are sometimes difficult to consider and always challenging to contemporary practice. The book highlights the absolute necessity of art and design being an integral part of design for disability from the outset and not simply an add‐on or after thought. Through the lens of art and design Graham required me to think about disability in a way that was sometimes uncomfortable and always worthwhile.

This book is also a delight to hold and look at, the size and weight of the book appealed to me. The layout is easy to access and Graham guides the reader through the topics with care. Above all the photographs and illustrations are beautiful and worth looking at over and over again. It is certainly a book that is pleasing to own as well as one to use as a reference point. I thoroughly recommend this book and I for one continue to pick it up and re‐read sections to mull over.