Fashion, Disability and Co-Design: A Human-Centered Design Approach

Constricting styles and limited clothing choices can restrict a person with a disability from fully participating in social communities, employment and gatherings that have an unspoken dress code. Design has the power to change this.

Fashion, Disability, and Co-design shows how collaborative, inclusive design techniques can produce garments and accessories that increase social inclusion. Grace Jun outlines practical techniques to help designers create their own inclusive collections, with detailed examples from interviews with professionals. 14 illustrated case studies show how engagement with disability communities to co-design clothing and accessories can lead to functional, wearable
solutions for people of all abilities without compromising style.

Interviews:
- Inclusive Representation in Fashion Narrative & Design Process - Christina Mallon
- Understanding the Use of Materials - Angela Domsitz Jabara
- Human Factors and Occupational Therapy - Michael Tranquilli
- Interactive Garments and Textiles - Jeanne Tan

Grace Jun is assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Georgia (UGA) researching design processes inclusive of disability, such as accessible interaction design, co-design, and adaptive fashion. Grace connects her academic research to design practice by developing relationships with disability communities as CEO of Open Style Lab (OSL), a Smithsonian National award-winning nonprofit organization. A three-time recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts, Grace also serves on jury committees and organizations that further advance the arts & design.