The approach "Design Ability" sees designers as agents of change capable of transforming challenges into opportunities. By leveraging their skills and creativity, designers can help create a built environment that is not only accessible, but also aesthetically and culturally enriching. This approach not only meets the needs of users, but also elevates the overall quality of the architectural project.
But developing the concept of “Design Ability” requires deep reflection on how designers can best use their skills and creativity to address accessibility challenges, going beyond the application of regulations.
The principles of “Design Ability” for the use of designers:
1. Creativity and Innovation in Design
• Creative Problem Solving: We use our design capabilities to solve complex problems through innovative solutions that not only meet accessibility standards, but exceed them. This approach encourages experimentation with new materials, technologies and design methodologies.
• Inclusive and Personalized Design: We adopt the seven principles of Universal Design (Equity of use, Flexibility of use, Simple and intuitive use, Perceptible information, Tolerance to error, Containment of physical effort, Dimensions and spaces for access and use), combining them with a tailor-made approach that values the specific needs of the context and the users.
2. Transversal Skills and Collaboration
• Interdisciplinarity: We involve professionals from other fields (engineers, psychologists, sociologists, etc.) to develop more comprehensive and multifaceted solutions. Interdisciplinary collaboration stimulates new ideas and perspectives on accessible design.
• Community of Practice: We promote working groups or communities of practice among designers to share knowledge and experiences regarding accessibility. These spaces foster the continuous improvement of design skills.
3. Empathic and Ethical Approach
• Empathic Design: We “put ourselves in the shoes of end users” to better understand their daily challenges. This may include conducting field studies, interviews and workshops with users with disabilities to gather direct feedback.
• Design Ethics: We adopt a design ethic that considers accessibility not only as a regulatory obligation, but as a “social responsibility”. This can lead to a greater commitment to creating more inclusive environments that respect human diversity.
4. Leverage Emerging Technologies
• Digital Twin and 3D Modeling: We create digital models of designed environments to analyze and improve accessibility at the design stage, enabling iterative changes prior to physical construction.
• Integration of Advanced Technologies: We would like to implement the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and 3D printing to develop design solutions that are easily adaptable and customizable. These technologies can be used to simulate usage scenarios and test innovative solutions quickly and cost-effectively.
5. Enhance Cultural Heritage
• Designing with Respect for History: In the most sensitive historical contexts or in the case of “listed” buildings, we can use our design skills to integrate accessible solutions that respect and enhance the existing heritage. This could involve the use of reversible or temporary solutions that do not permanently alter the original structure.
• Architectural Integration: We create solutions that not only respect, but enrich the aesthetics and historical narrative of buildings, through a design that becomes an integral part of the place and its history.
6. Education and Continuing Training
• Permanent Training: We offer continuing education opportunities for designers to update their knowledge on new accessible design techniques and technologies.
• Awareness raising: We organize seminars and workshops to raise awareness among designers on the importance of accessibility and how this can be a source of innovation rather than a constraint.