Design for a dignified life

E ach person is unique. All of us have some things that we find easy while we experience other things as more difficult. Sometimes what comes easily to

us falls outside the norm. We call that talent. Sometimes what we find difficult falls outside the norm. Then that could be termed a disability. The combination of our abilities in different areas creates our multifaceted personalities. If we can appreciate diversity and support all abilities, then all people will have an easier time contributing to our society.

W hat this support should look like will depend on the type of need and scope. Sometimes a hand on the shoulder will help a person remember

a forgotten word while other needs may require more both in terms of aid resources and assistance.

T his exhibition includes aid resources that compensate for specific needs, products that help caregivers to assist and work with people with disabilities,

and products that are designed to be easy to use by everyone. All of these need to be available and further developed in a society that offers a decent life for all citizens.

F or many people with disabilities daily life can be experienced as excluding. In a sustainable society, we cannot design products, services and environments

so that they exclude people and require special solutions. It is desirable that in the future we will not need as many means of assistance. If designers, manufacturers and marketers acquire more knowledge, and people with disabilities more often become involved in product development, our future society will be better for everyone.

I t is not just about inclusion from an ethical and empathetic perspective. Demographic change, with an increasing proportion of older people, means

that we must find solutions in which everyone can contribute according to their conditions; the alternative is to jeopardise our welfare. At the same time we are entering an era when focus on cheap mass production inherent in industrialisation needs to be replaced with sustainable products that we can connect with and that will increase our quality of life.

Lena LorentzenProfessor in Design for All, Mid Sweden University

The Swedish Institute (SI) is a public agency that promotes interest and confidence in Sweden around the world. SI seeks to establish cooperation and lasting relations with other countries through strategic communication and exchange in the fields of culture, education, science and business. SI works closely with the Swedish embassies and consulates around the world. For more information about SI and Sweden, please visit si.se and sweden.se.

BabyBjörn www.babybjorn.se/enBellman & Symfon www.bellman.com Etac www.etac.com Feal www.feal.seIndex Braille www.indexbraille.comIris Hjälpmedel www.irishjalpmedel.se Lectus Produktion www.stockholmii.seLVI Low Vision International www.lvi.se Martall www.martall.eu

Panthera www.panthera.sePrisma Teknik www.prismatibro.seSkrufs Glasbruk www.skrufsglasbruk.seSomna www.somna.euTetra Pak www.tetrapak.comTobii Dynavox www.tobiidynavox.comTrelleborg www.trelleborg.com/elastomerlaminatesTrustCare www.trustcare.seTwicegrip Sweden www.twicegrip.com

Company Webpage

Project Manager: Sylvia Augustinsson, Swedish InstituteCurator: Margarita Bergfeldt Matiz

Photo: Emelie Asplund/imagebank.sweden.se, Claudio Bresciani. Printed in Sweden: Åtta.45, Järfälla, 2016.

Design for dignity.

ReadMagniLink Zip 13 — Video magnifierDesign: LVI, Myra Industriell Design Company: LVI Low Vision International

OpenTetra Pak® SRA — Food packagesDesign: Tetra PakCompany: Tetra Pak

PlayFia Touch — GameDesign: Magnus OlssonCompany: Martall

ReachAktiv — ReachersDesign: VerydayCompany: Etac

EatFeed and Tasty — Cutlery and plateDesign: VerydayCompany: Etac

DrinkGripp — GlasswareDesign: Karin ErikssonCompany: Skrufs Glasbruk

Decide Tobii Dynavox I-12 Gaze Interaction  — Eye-controlled deviceDesign: Myra Industriell DesignCompany: Tobii Dynavox

ShowerClean — Toilet and shower chair Design: A&E DesignCompany: Etac

Get around Panthera X — WheelchairDesign: Leif Thies Company: Panthera

GrabPolly — Slip joint plierDesign: Lena Landin LorentzenCompany: Aritma Innovation  

WriteContour — PenDesign: DesignkonsulternaCompany: Etac

Remain calmThe Comforter — Chain blanketDesign: Staffan Ramer Company: Somna

MoveLet’s Fly — Walker/rollatorDesign: TrustCare Carloni DesignCompany: TrustCare

Grip Twicegrip Tungsten — Anti-slip guardsDesign: Anders Sjöstedt, Anders Karlsson, Fredric SehélerCompany: Twicegrip Sweden

OrientateTactile Flooring — Floor guide systemDesign: Trelleborg Company: Trelleborg

Transform Braille Box V4 — Braille printerDesign: Jens Kallin / Max David ErikssonCompany: Index Braille

Give accessF110 — RampDesign: Karl-Erik KarlssonCompany: Feal

RestSnupi — Folding stoolDesign: Hans Ehrich / A&E DesignCompany: Lectus Produktion

CarryBabyBjörn One — Baby carrierDesign: Babybjörn / VerydayCompany: BabyBjörn

Observe Prisma Daps — Pedestrian signDesign: Prisma Teknik Company: Prisma Teknik

ListenDomino Classic — Listening systemDesign: Shift Design & Strategy Company: Bellman & Symfon

Remind Penny Talks — Digital voice labelerDesign: Anders Fällman Company: Iris Hjälpmedel

Design for a dignified life

Design for dignity.