Spatialising differently through ability and techné

ABSTRACT

This paper reflects on multisensorial and multimodal processes by considering spatial design differently through three case studies in Canada and Belgium that involved persons with visual impairments. Our research provokes alternative ways of ‘seeing’ and ‘being’ in the world and we assert that the normative ways that designers think, act, and design for/with people who have disabilities can be shifted when considering ableism and techné together. Our studies and methods differ from other design processes and methods, in that we situate design within an understanding of ableism and techné, where we encourage designers to reflect upon their ability biases in order to break assumptions about the abilities and disabilities of users and/or codesigners. Through exploring, observing and creating, nuanced examinations into ability and techné are revealed that support an intimate bond and an empathic response towards shaping the designers’ understanding of participants embodied and practical knowledge. Our case study research expands the ways of knowing and doing in codesign through ableism and techné with people who are visually impaired, to create inspiring and meaningful designs through multisensorial processes that are inclusive of ‘seeing’ in order to spatialise differently.

KEYWORDS:

• Ableism
• disability
• photovoice
• multisensorial
• techné
• spatial design

Acknowledgments

The film Light in the Borderlands was funded through a Killam Cornerstone Grant. For the Canadian Museum, this work was partially funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Grant. The Belgian case study was partially funded by a grant from the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen/FWO Flanders). The authors would like to thank all of the participants and organisations in Canada and Belgium for sharing their time and insights for these research projects.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Killam Trusts [Cornerstone Grant]; Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen/ FWO Flanders) [Grant]; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [Doctoral Fellowship].