For decades, people with disabilities have relied on service dogs to help them perform daily tasks like opening doors, turning on lights, or alerting caregivers to emergencies. By some estimates, there are 500,000 service dogs in the U.S., but little attention has been paid to the fact that these dogs have been trained to interact with interfaces that are made for humans.
Monotypes logotype couldn't just exist in one static state - "ideas of diversity, adaptability, and boundary-pushing were central to the creation of the variable logo from the start," says Daniel. Collaborative workshops, sketching sessions and exchanges with Chantelle's global chief creative officer, Renaud Cambuzat, and head of design, Natalia Kotkowska, cemented into the idea for a shapeshifter logo capable of morphing its look through different weights and shapes.
Because we're products of a system that excludes certain people, it's surprisingly easy to do the same. Unless we've experienced exclusion or someone has pointed it out to us. Gradually, this exclusion seeps into design, and not only through inaccessible interfaces. Ableist design shows up in the user needs we forget to anticipate, who we don't invite for user research, and how we deprioritise tasks of a project.
Ghiotto is a boccia ramp designed to support social interaction among children with and without disabilities in environments. Developed by Diego Reggiani as a university project within a design laboratory at Politecnico di Milano, it was selected for the shortlist of the iF Design Student Award. Rooted in the principles of universal design, the project addresses a crucial challenge: enabling children who use wheelchairs to build meaningful relationships from a young age.
Global creative company Buck has joined with LinkedIn to give a visual refresh to the platform's in-app milestone moments. Described as "a big glow-up" by LinkedIn's director of product design Audrey Davis, the redesign includes a new suite of animations that hope to make celebrating on LinkedIn a more expressive and engaging experience. Prioritising inclusive character representation, creative metaphors that "connect across cultures", and the blue of the LinkedIn brand, these new illustrations capture a range of milestones and emotions.
AI is able to build things in minutes or even seconds that would take humans hours to do. But its biggest strength is also its biggest flaw. AI is, at its core, a tool used to imitate human knowledge in an advanced capacity. So while it's able to produce work faster, it also inherits all our biases. It's important to address these biases when building products to ensure that what we're developing can be used by everyone.
So I'm lying in bed, squinting at my novel, holding it at arm's length like some sort of demented scarecrow. The text size that seemed perfectly readable two years ago now appears to have been written by ants. Welcome to your fifties, they said. It'll be fun, they said. I have to be honest; this decline in my eyesight has been a real wake-up call. Not just because I need to wear my multifocals to bed; making feel like an owl in a Disney movie.
Since its establishment in 1996, the prize has recognized works that respond to contemporary challenges while shaping more inclusive futures. This year's shortlist spans a diverse range of scales and programs, including the restoration of one of the nation's most iconic landmarks, a pioneering medical research facility, a contemporary almshouse designed to reduce isolation among older residents, a university's "factory for fashion," a fully accessible home, and a creative house extension.
On the vibrant evening of September 1st, Mode Suisse once again illuminated the runway at Kunsthaus Zürich with its enchanting format, Mode Suisse & Friends 2025. A heartfelt thank you to the creative makers for inviting us to this splendid event, where 22 talented participants, including 13 exciting newcomers, showcased their latest collections, transforming the Pfistersaal into a cinematic fashion experience.
It makes sense because these users are easier to source for research and quick to adopt new features. However, many teams miss out on an important opportunity by developing for so-called "niche" or "edge" users. These users, whether they're first-time digital users (FTDUs), persons with low literacy, older adults, people with disabilities, or those in low-connectivity situations, constitute a sizable proportion of the global population. In many markets, they even make up the majority.
The new extension of Withington Baths, rooted in historical context, incorporates contemporary elements while respecting its Edwardian origins through the use of brick, terracotta, and functional designs.
Making work environments more accessible in London is now a priority for businesses, with significant changes to infrastructure and employment practices for inclusivity.
