DEVELOPING AWARENESS TOWARDS INCLUSIVE DESIGN WITH EMPATHIC MODELING: A CASE STUDY IN A CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The design of the built environment is very crucial since it can have an impact on the engagement
and participation of people in their everyday activities. Often there is a mismatch between the users
and the built environment that causes barriers to access and use. Designers need to be aware that
users of the built environment can have diverse abilities and needs. This study aimed to develop
awareness towards inclusive design during an experimental inclusive design course taught at the
Interior Architecture department of a private university in Ankara, Turkey. Thirty students enrolled
in the course experienced the university campus by empathic modeling and described their
experiences and difficulties as being visually impaired. A questionnaire was administered to
identify the barriers in the campus environment from the perspective of a visually impaired user.
Empathic modeling was shown to be important to support inclusive design and allowed students to
develop awareness to inclusion of people with different abilities. Therefore, inclusive design has to
be emphasized as a fundamental and inseparable aspect of the design education.