Embassy of Inclusive Society

An active process of learning and unlearning

In recent years, we, as a society, have become more aware of diversity (the variety and mix of different people) and have been working towards inclusivity (being open to and welcoming all those differences). Positive changes promote equality and accessibility and bring different voices to the forefront. You would almost think we are done.

However, watching the news or scrolling on social media is enough to understand we are not. There is still a lot to do. Inclusivity is not a problem with one simple solution or a time limit. Unfair systems are still in place, and since people will always differ and societies constantly change, the quest for inclusivity will remain important.

The Embassy of Inclusive Society invites you to think of inclusivity as a process. It is not a one-off action or a tick on a checklist. Rather than a fixed result, we propose considering inclusivity as a series of experiences in which we unlearn old habits and learn new things. Think, for example, of the words we use or the way we treat each other. Every step we take,     we ask ourselves questions about social norms and relationships. And more importantly, every decision or action leads to the next step, a new learning moment. 

Dutch Design Week 2024: Three paths of (un)learning

In an exhibition and a learning event, we will address three main questions this year.

How do we move from separate projects to an ongoing process?
Inclusivity calls for connections. Between different themes, sectors, and disciplines. But how do we move from separate projects to an ongoing process? For example, we can take what we learn from one project and apply it somewhere else or in a broader context. A process like this requires patience and an open mind.

We need people who can act as ambassadors for change and connect the dots. Last year, the Embassy started the Lorem Ipsum design research and created guidelines for inclusive presentations. This year, these guidelines have been used to make the ‘Designing for Society’ exhibition more welcoming and accessible. We are not there yet, but we continue to take steps.

Which roles can designers take on in the journey towards inclusivity?
Inclusive design is about how we design for the diversity of our society. To do so, it is important to pay attention to all people and their visible and invisible differences, and to understand their various needs. Working with the input, insights, and knowledge of experts by experience is crucial. More and more designers work in co-creation with people who have different needs to be able to participate equally in society. Additionally, designers contribute to inclusivity by asking questions and challenging our assumptions. They enter the design process with an open mind and know they do not know everything.

What can designers (un)learn to design for everyone and everybody?
The ongoing loop of learning and unlearning applies to the Embassy itself. On the one hand, we look at how designers contribute to an inclusive society, and on the other, we believe that we still have a lot to (un)learn to offer better design for everybody.

This includes asking questions about existing design processes and our ideas about beauty. This way, we can better meet the needs of a diverse society. For equal experiences, we need to make information accessible in different ways. Design is often very visual; inclusive design requires designing with and for all senses to work towards more equal information transfer. This year, we expand on the earlier Lorem Ipsum research: we investigate what is needed to design accessible events and enriching experiences. This question will be central during the Embassy’s event at Dutch Design Week.