The Inclusive Design Issue

Design Museum Magazine’s Winter 2024 issue is available for purchase. The Inclusive Design Issue includes twelve in-depth pieces that explore the diversity of the human experience and the importance of inclusive design as a practice and approach for nondesigners and designers. We have gathered a variety of voices to help us understand the historical and contemporary definitions of inclusive design, demonstrate practical applications and strategies around inclusive design, and offer stories of inclusive design in the built environment, work, and life.  

Aligning with a publication focused on inclusive design, we are also releasing an accessible text version of the issue. This alternative format is designed in large print and plain text style to make it accessible for people with print reading disabilities or those using assistive technology.

“We hope this issue will inspire conversations about inclusive design–the good, the bad, and the complicated. The inspiration for this issue came through discussions with staff and our community on how design and structures of oppression affect all parts of any design process. Everything is designed, and therefore everything can be dismantled and redesigned.“

— J.R. Uretsky, Letter from the Editor

 The Inclusive Design Issue features:

• Accessibility and Inclusion in Housing Design by Anne Riggs
• What Do You Want? I Got You by E.T. Russian
• Design for Everyone – Where to Begin? by Jennifer C. Schmidt
• What Barriers Still Exist Today by Former Senator Tom Harkin, Jason Kruse, and Kevin Nordmeyer
• Designing for Grief by AJ Johannes
• How Can We Design for Disabled Joy? by Hannah Silver & Holst Architecture
• Innovators for Purpose: Where Inclusion, Design, and Youth Empowerment Converge by Michael K. Dawson and Donna Dawson
• The Case for Inclusive Classroom Acoustics by Nicole Cuff
• Combat Inclusion-Washing as We Advocate for Inclusive Design by Kamara Sudberry
• Inclusive Design + Empathy Roundtable Discussion – A conversation with Josephine Holmboe, Anne Petersen, and moderated by Emma Stone
• The Challenges of Applying Inclusive Design in Healthcare by Nedret Sahin,  Kelsey Werner, and Amy Wicks 
• Inclusive Design & the Pursuit of Intimacy: Finding Connection in the Modern World by Aidan Borer and Risham Nadeem

Purchase The Inclusive Design Issue and/or subscribe to Unfold Magazine (formerly Design Museum Magazine) to receive stories about creative thought leaders who are using design to change the world.