Design Meets Disability by Graham Pullin argues that design for disabled people and mainstream design can mutually inspire radical change. Pullin illustrates how eyeglasses, once medical necessities, became fashion accessories through embracing design sensibilities. He suggests applying this approach to other assistive devices like hearing aids and prosthetic limbs, while highlighting how disability can, in turn, inspire mainstream design, citing Charles and Ray Eames’s furniture inspired by a leg splint. Through examples of innovative disability design and interviews with leading designers, Pullin explores how fashionable assistive devices, inclusive signage, simplified designs, and emerging design methods can enrich both fields, fostering a diverse and complementary approach to design.
https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262516747/design-meets-disability/