Empathy through Accumulating Techné: Designing an Accessible Metro

ABSTRACT

This paper describes, analyses and reflects on a co-creation process between people with and without disabilities as they redesign the Brussels metro transport system over a two-decade period. Users who are visually impaired and blind become experts in the process while people without disabilities, a group of transport companies and service developers, become more empathic towards those with different needs. Our narrative reveals an inclusive design process that takes into account the particular capabilities and dispositions of people through a discussion of techné, which is described as embodied know-how enacted through daily life. This paper illustrates how people, with and without disabilities, achieve an increasingly more symmetrical negotiation as they work together towards a common goal. Techné is identified as key to engaging in a co-creation process towards developing empathy with users and discovering the nuances of users' authentic needs, and has the potential to impact design outcomes in profound ways.

KEYWORDS:

• disability
• inclusive design
• know-how
• redesign
• user/expert

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Megan Strickfaden

Biographies

Megan Strickfaden is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta, Canada. She studied anthropology, people-centred design and sustainability at the University of Alberta (Canada). She followed this by working for 12 years as a design engineer with various design firms. Strickfaden obtained her PhD in Humanities & Social Sciences from Napier University (UK) with a study investigating potential sociocultural influences on the design process and the cultural milieu of design teaching environments. Strickfaden's current research continues to investigate sociocultural complexities within educational and professional design environments including looking at issues related to design for/with people who are disabled.

Patrick Devlieger

Patrick Devlieger is an associate professor in the Centre for Interculturalism, Migration and Minority Studies at KULeuven, Belgium. He studied anthropology and disability studies at the University of Illinois focusing on mental impairments (PhD) and African people with disabilities (Masters). Devlieger's current research includes social and cultural aspects of disability in Africa, the United States and Europe. He has published extensively on concepts around disability including people's experiences within their cultural contexts. Major publications include ‘Rethinking Disability’ and ‘Disability and the Multi-Sensorial City'. Devlieger is often consulted as an expert in issues related to disability and holds many fellowships and awards for his work.