A Designer’s Role in Inclusive Design Processes

Abstract

Today’s world is in the midst of a material and immaterial exchange process, one of discussion and synergic use of abilities. This begs the question of what role design could possibly play in these conditions and what procedures should a designer put in place in order to attempt to give plausible answers to the new relationships that connect people and the space they inhabit. Basically, the quality of a space is no longer entrusted solely to its architectural characteristics, but to the management of a more complex system of relationships, between subjects, objects and actions of varying nature. This design is of an investigative nature, which other than providing solutions also and most importantly becomes a tool for reading and knowing reality. In these conditions, instead of binding ourselves to a system of theoretical assumptions and preconceptions, we should implement a new strategy we could describe as curatorial. It is, therefore, necessary to think of a redistribution of roles that contribute to defining a design and the connections between the various skills. This process is one of disintermediation with regards to the role of the designer, no longer seen as the sole mediator between people’s needs and the shaping of space, but instead as part of a more complex dialogue system.