Julian Wing focused on issues facing disabled people and their access to goods and services, particularly clothing. It also highlighted the changes over the years since the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act (which should have improved access to goods and services for disabled people in the UK) and discussed some of the research that is now taking place that is focused on 'inclusive design'.
Julian presented some of his experiences and thoughts from the Awear UK project, which aimed to challenge preconceptions about disabled people and their place in the fashion arena. Through the lecture, Julian made all in attendance aware of how powerful a group disabled people can be as consumers. It is still, astonishingly, a largely untapped market. This wasn't just limited to people with physical conditions, but those with mental impairments as well.
What I found strikingly interesting was the amount of ethical consideration one needs for these sorts of projects and subjects, especially at postgraduate study. My own project does not include many ethical factors beyond considering those with conditions like epilepsy, and informing those in the public space of film recording. The spaces I would occupy for my work are likely to already cater for those with physical disability. But after seeing this lecture, I've decided to draw more on these ethics in terms of my project proposal and inclusive design, which may go to reach out to a largely untapped audience.
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