Verwant’s Post

💡Inclusive Design for All💡 Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending "Wheels of Change: Adaptive Solutions for All Abilities" at the Connected Communities Summit, presented by Wasatch Adaptive Sports. The session highlighted some incredible innovations, like adaptive mountain bikers tackling Utah's trails, showing how thoughtful design can make all the difference for those with diverse mobility needs. While my day-to-day work doesn’t involve designing trails, the principles shared by the speaker, Jared Dangerfield, really made me reflect on how I can make my field more inclusive. Jared shared a simple, yet powerful idea: involve people with disabilities directly in the design process. For instance, a bridge crossing on a trail might be a breeze for a 2 wheel mountain biker, but for adaptive riders, the width could make it a challenge—or even impossible to cross. In my discipline, the biggest opportunity for inclusivity may lie in visual design. Many of my clients interact with exhibits, maps, and visuals, and I need to be more conscious of those who experience color blindness or other visual impairments. One fantastic takeaway from the session was using color blindness testing tools or involving someone with visual impairments during the design phase to ensure that my work is accessible to everyone. 🚧 Whether you're in trail design, city planning, or creating digital experiences, there's a lot we can do to make sure we're thinking about inclusivity at every step. This session was a great reminder that there’s always room to grow! #InclusiveDesign #Accessibility #AdaptiveSolutions #ConnectedCommunities #WasatchAdaptive #ProfessionalDevelopment #GIS #Municipalities #AccessibilityMatters

Should all museums offer stroller parking?? Probably not... it all depends on who's there! It's all about meeting our guests where they're at in exhibit design. This photo showcases a brilliant example: stroller parking and a mother's room at Museum of Discovery and Science's new early childhood space. By acknowledging young families' needs—from extra "stuff" to quiet spaces for feeding and changing—we're creating truly welcoming environments. These thoughtful additions show how understanding our visitors' life stages can transform their experience. But it doesn't stop there. Here are other intentional design elements museums can incorporate to meet specific audiences where they're at: 🤫 Sensory-friendly spaces: Quiet rooms and low-stimulation areas for neurodiverse visitors 🎧 Multilingual signage and audio guides: Catering to diverse linguistic communities 👩🦽➡️Wheelchair-height interactive displays: Ensuring accessibility for all mobility levels 🤓 Large-print materials and tactile exhibits: Supporting visitors with visual impairments 🚻 Gender-neutral restrooms: Creating inclusive spaces for all gender identities 👨🏻🎓 Cultural context stations: Providing background for visitors unfamiliar with certain topics 👍🏻 Tech-free zones: Offering areas for focused engagement without digital distractions What other ways can we meet guests where they're at in our spaces? Share your ideas below! #exhibitdesign #visitorexperience #inclusivity #museuminnovation #inspiredimpact

I had the privilege of being one of the speakers at 2024 Aiga Design Conference, AIGA Design, where we tackled some of the most pressing issues shaping the future of design today. One of the key themes was around margins and marginality, emphasizing the importance of giving space to underrepresented voices, non-Western design histories, and design practices that live outside the mainstream. We also explored inclusivity and accessibility, addressing the need to create design systems that work for everyone, including neurodivergent individuals, differently-abled persons, and historically excluded communities. Another exciting theme was community-centered and co-creation design, where we discussed how involving communities in the design process leads to more relevant and empowering outcomes. Decolonizing design and challenging traditional Eurocentric conventions was a recurring topic, pushing us all to think about how to create a truly global and inclusive design practice. The discussions around design as a tool for social change were particularly inspiring, highlighting how design can amplify marginalized voices, tackle systemic inequalities, and drive societal progress. The focus on cultural representation, narrative storytelling, and technological innovation showcased how we can preserve cultural identities and histories through design, while also addressing the ethical implications of our work in the digital era. Overall, it was an inspiring event that reminded me of the critical role design can play in shaping a more inclusive, equitable, and impactful future for all. Thank you again all for connecting! #DesignForChange #InclusiveDesign #DecolonizingDesign #CommunityDesign #SocialImpact #CulturalRepresentation

🌟 Being culturally relevant in today's ever-changing landscape is crucial for brands to connect with their target audience. It's about seeing your target audience as a community of individuals who share the same values, dreams, and motivations. Our clients understand the importance of staying connected with their audience and creating meaningful experiences that resonate with them. We recently collaborated with Levi’s to showcase at the Museo Delle Culture in Milano some of the most iconic pieces from their archives in San Francisco. These pieces not only represent the brand's history and heritage but also speak to the aspirations and desires of our audience. We believe that by sharing these pieces, we are not just promoting a product or a brand, but contributing to the cultural conversation and shaping the zeitgeist of our time. And it was a true honour to work with LABO.ART and @plastic fantastique to create at the Università degli Studi di Milano a magical installation that speaks directly to the heart on the occasion of the 2024 Milan Design Week. This installation is a visual representation of the shared values and emotions that unite us as a community. By engaging with art and design in this way, we are able to connect with our audience on a deeper level and cultivate a sense of belonging and connection. At the heart of everything we do is the desire to communicate more than just a fashion brand. We strive to be a cultural force that interprets and embodies the spirit of the times. By understanding and responding to the needs and desires of our audience, we can create not a mere experience (the concept of experience is widely abused nowadays) but an intimate exchange that is not only relevant but also enriching and meaningful. As we continue to evolve and grow, we are committed to staying true to our values and creating occasions to connect with our audience at a deeper level and share with them our view. We are excited to continue exploring new ways to connect with our community and contribute to the cultural conversation. #CulturalRelevance #BrandExperience #levis #MUDEC #DesignWeek #Levis #LaboArt #PlastiqueFantastique #ContemporaryCulture #Zeitgeist #CulturalContribution #CommunityEngagement 👖🎨🔮

Reimaginning the Museum Experience for a Digital Era | Gensler At the heart of New York City, the American Kennel Club (AKC) AKC Museum of the Dog stands as a beacon of innovation, merging classical displays with cutting-edge interactive design to engage visitors of all ages. Gone are the days when museums were solely about observing art; today's audiences crave immersive experiences that blend entertainment with education. That's precisely what the Museum of the Dog delivers. Through hands-on exhibits that seamlessly integrate physical and digital elements, this multidisciplinary destination invites guests to embark on a journey through the fascinating world of canine companionship. As John Bricker, creative director at Gensler, aptly puts it, "Museums today are not just about seeing art. They're competing against theater, film, and other activities. To capture attention, there needs to be a compelling reason to come." And compelling it is. Imagine stepping up to a "Find Your Match" kiosk, where facial recognition technology pairs your photo with an AKC-registered dog breed, sparking conversations and connections. Picture yourself at the "Train a Dog on the Job" exhibit, learning to command a virtual pup with voice prompts and gestures detected by motion sensors and 3D cameras. These are just glimpses of the interactive wonders awaiting visitors at the Museum of the Dog. But the innovation doesn't stop there. Touchscreen tables offer in-depth exploration of nearly 200 registered dog breeds, while a mobile app enriches the experience with augmented reality features, including a delightful scavenger hunt led by the lovable "Arty" the dog. With its reinvented presence and distinctive design, the AKC Museum of the Dog is not merely a repository of artifacts; it's a dynamic space that fosters connection, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for our four-legged friends. 👉 Enjoy the video and article from Gensler below. #Museums #Tourism #RealEstate #Technology #Experience

Universal design in workplaces recognizes all the way work can be done. The pandemic has shown many jobs can be done 100% remote as effectively as in the office. Many workplaces feel they are accessible by forcing hybrid - a compromise that is a little of both. Many have valid reasons that 100% remote works for them and are forced to define themselves as different to request remote reporting. Forced hybrid identifies that an employer recognizes remote and in office are work approaches that can be supported. If you do not allow all to choose the option that works for them you have not achieved universal design, you are maintaining barriers that require accommodations.

🧠💗 'A car, by nature, is an accommodation. It is an adjustment people use to support their needs.' A great post to get thinking gears whirring too! Raising explorations such as: Where DO we already embrace universal design? and where not? WHat is the value of benefits 1,2,3, layers of impact in? What do these insights tell us about true costs? Can we see clear indications of ableism in which accomodations we love in life, and which make us feel uncomfortable? And, relevant for car safety especially, how often is applied universal design actually centred around the able-bodied men of the universe? How quickly and broadly would society changed if we only designed things not centred in this way for a while? (And I don't mean by producing things in pink) Lots of little questions raised by a very useful analogy. 😊

#Imagine all the #climate 'solutions' in the world are made of LEGO. Put all of these 'solutions' into a big virtual bucket and shake it up so that the component parts separate into colors and sizes and functions. What are the common elements or the largest parts that all or most solutions contain? Now gather these components together, build a system that caters for these components and call it a commons economy. Clearly the men in the room have disproportionately contributed to the problem (look around today), so start with women doing the shaking and selecting and designing a new system that works today and as far into the future as we can see back . #yeswecan We are starting to work on something like this at #costcarbon Joiners welcome - of any color or shape, location or size!

‘Is It Kind?’ is this year's theme for International Design Day. But what is ‘Kind Design’? We asked our staff and this is a round-up of what ‘Kind Design’ means to them… Accessibility: Ensuring that designs are accessible to people with disabilities, such as those with visual impairments, hearing impairments, or motor disabilities. Inclusivity: Designs which lead to more accessible solutions that benefit a wider range of people, enriching the overall user experience. Empathy: Understanding users’ emotions, motivations, and experiences to create designs that resonate with them and address their needs and concerns. Sustainability: Considering the environmental impact of design choices and striving to minimise waste and resource consumption. It is important to continuously build these practices into our thinking to ensure a positive social impact while promoting long-term sustainability. Embracing ‘Kind Design’ means working towards a brighter future for everyone. #IDD #internationaldesignday #kinddesign #accessibility #inclusivity #empathy #sustainability

#accessibility #inclusion #technology Image Description: The image features a serene landscape with autumn trees and steep mountains reflected in the still surface of a lake. The sky above is blue with scattered clouds. At the center of the image, a quote reads, “Technology should be the great equalizer, not a barrier.” Below the quote is VZP Digital’s logo, accompanied by the tagline, "We Connect the World with Words."