Trends in public design for the disabled: A case study on public design for visually impaired people

The goal of an inclusive society with equal opportunity for all is increasingly recognised and promoted worldwide. However, disabled people still face many difficulties in their daily lives, as well as some degree of exclusion from the wider society. Over the past few years, public design has considered ways to benefit disabled people, with an increasing trend to consult with and take advice from disabled people themselves. Taking aircraft lavatories as a case study, this chapter explores ways to help visually impaired people have a better quality of life, with minimal assistance from other people. This chapter discusses how the public design process can use consultative, participatory and inclusive approaches to generate understanding, so that the outcome of applied research fits the needs and preferences of disabled people. This chapter is not just a report on a particular case study. It also hopes to arouse designers" awareness of user-participation as an important trend in public design. Disabled people, users, should be invited to participate actively in the design process in order to bring real benefits to the disabled community, thereby contributing to an inclusive and harmonious society.