Beyond Empathy: What the V&A's Design and Disability Exhibition Taught Me

About this episode

Dr Alison Hardy reflects on her transformative experience at the V&A’s Design and Disability exhibition, exploring the importance of inclusive design.

Send me a message. A museum floor changed underfoot and so did my thinking. After a visit to the V&A’s Design and Disability exhibition, I came home energised and unsettled—in the best way—and unpack how inclusive design moves from a nice‑to‑have to the engine of real innovation and dignity. It caused me to question a stubborn myth: that able‑bodied designers solve problems for others. The stories on display point to something richer—design with, led and instigated by Disabled people, whe...

People in this episode

Host: Dr Alison Hardy

Topics covered

• inclusive design
• disability
• innovation
• design thinking
• museum exhibitions

Keywords

• inclusive design
• disability
• V&A
• design innovation
• museum experience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: V&A

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