EXTENDING THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN DESIGN(ERS) AND DISABLED USE(RS): FROM CONVERSATION TO EMBODIED SKILL

This paper considers how the relationship between architectural design and disability can be turned from a constraining relationship into a facilitating one. It is argued that limitations can be turned into opportunities through dialogue; opportunities for designers, their designs or design methods, and for all users, whether they are disabled or not. The dialogue can take on different forms, and—as we will show—benefits can be found on the designer‟s side as well as on the user‟s side. In the following, we will first discuss the problematic relationship between architectural design and disability, both for a designer as for a disabled user. We then turn our attention to the notion of dialogue in design research litterature, after which we will consider two empirical cases that explore the possible benefits of architectural design in dialogue with disability. Finally, we present a discussion of the implications for current and future design research and practice. In extending the dialogue, new questions emerge about how we communicate design intent and use design skill.