Designing AS People – and leaving no one behind

On 16 April, Professor Yanki Lee will launch her new publication Designing AS People – Beyond Ableism, Practising Universal Design Otherwise at Kolding School of Design. The book launch also marks a strengthened collaboration between Kolding School of Design and the Bevica Foundation to develop and embed universal and inclusive design in research, education and practice.

How can we create design that not only includes more people, but fundamentally rethinks who design is for? This question lies at the heart of Yanki Lee’s new publication. For Lee, the challenge is to expand design practice so that it takes greater account of people’s different circumstances, abilities and life situations.

- Universal Design is not only about accessibility. It is about developing a practice grounded in a deep awareness of human diversity and shared responsibility, says Yanki Lee, PhD.

Since 2021, Yanki Lee has worked closely with staff and students to embed Universal Design as an integral part of Kolding School of Design’s academic profile. This has led, among other things, to participation in the Bevica Scholarship Programme, the establishment of the Universal Design Awards, and the development of teaching programmes and workshops that challenge conventional understandings of design practice. At the Bevica Foundation, the collaboration is seen as an important step towards anchoring Universal Design within design education.

- Kolding School of Design demonstrates how Universal Design can be integrated into teaching, research and practice. This is essential if we are to create a more inclusive society through design, says Camilla Ryhl, PhD, Director of Research at the Bevica Foundation and head of the Universal Design Hub, who also highlights the book’s methodological contribution:

- In her book, Yanki Lee not only provides a thorough introduction to what Universal Design is and what it can offer – more importantly, she presents a method for practising Universal Design. A method grounded in a deep understanding of the concept, as well as in her own and Kolding School of Design’s extensive experience in teaching and practising socially responsible design methods. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to integrate Universal Design into their own practice.

With renewed support from the Bevica Foundation, the collaboration will be further strengthened. Universal Design is not intended as a separate track, but as a fundamental approach to design education, research and practice.

The launch of Designing AS People at Kolding School of Design on 16 April will therefore be both an academic milestone and a celebration of the central role that socially responsible and inclusive design plays in the school’s strategic development.

The event takes place on 16 April, 16:00–17:00, in the Auditorium at Kolding School of Design. Everyone is welcome.