Publications

The research approach and the design of the proposed solutions are based on Human-Centred Design and Inclusive Design principles and the involvement of different user profiles, in particular associations of people with visual, hearing and motor disabilities, with whom design solutions have been developed that integrate the possibility of multisensory involvement of visitors and the development of a customisable visitor experience aimed at as wide an audience as possible.

The proposed solutions integrate multisensory stations, which offer the possibility of tactile reading of the works, verbal descriptions, and olfactory stimuli, with video guides created using a mobile application that can be customised according to different needs. The design solutions are accompanied by the creation of a platform for the dissemination and sharing of the project, divided into informative, documentary, instrumental and community sections.  The XALL project, funded by the TIM Foundation and carried out by the Ergonomics and Design Laboratory of the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence, with the participation of the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering of the Politecnico di Milano, was developed with the Bargello Museum, the Palazzo Vecchio Museum and the Bardini Museum in Florence.  The associations ENS Ente Nazionale Sordi (National Deaf Association), UIC Unione Italiana Ciechi e Ipovedenti (Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired), HABILIA ONLUS Associazione di Paratetraplegici e altri disabili motori (Association of Paraplegics and other Motor Disabled People) participated in the project.

In the European scenario of greener, digital, and inclusive transitions, the concept of Inclusive Living Communities (ILCs) is apparent and foster socially inclusive interventions within small- and large-scale communities. Living in a community that is fully inclusive is recognized as a driver for prosperity and quality. Thus, ILCs promote health, wellbeing, and changes toward sustainable visions that are relevant for Design studies, due to the use inclusive stances to trigger social innovations. Although ILCs mainly raise discussions within Urban Planning studies, endogenous dynamics used to address human-centered investigations have not yet been examined through Inclusive Design’s lenses; these could stimulate new design explorations by suggesting innovative research avenues hinged around inclusiveness, wellbeing, and users’ engagement. This paper explores the concept of ILC and provides and overview of research trends and design scenarios at different scales. Research trends are discussed to offer themed explorations on different domains that are considered as relevant.

Modern neurophysiological techniques have expanded the under- standing of cortical dysfunctions in paediatric neurological diseases, such as brain injuries and epilepsy, which are associated with high rates of mortality and disability. Electroencephalography (EEG), a crucial method for diagnosing and monitoring critical patients, presents significant challenges in paediatric use due to usability and comfort issues associated with traditional systems. The research at the Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence aimed to develop innovative solutions to optimise brain activity monitoring in paediatric patients. The interaction between the patient and the device was analysed using Human-Centred Design (HCD) and User Experience (UX) approaches. The investigation revealed critical issues in the current workflow, highlighting usability problems and discomfort caused by traditional EEG devices. These findings led to the design of the Cosmo+ EEG System, a modular device that offers personalised monitoring, providing a more user-friendly and less invasive experience. This device could improve workflow and patient satisfaction, representing a significant advancement in neurophysiology with potential clinical and research applications, including home use.

Today, the social inclusion concept embraces numerous aspects and contexts of everyday life. Inclusive Design, going far beyond the design of products/services, plays a crucial role in fostering the inclusion of individuals within society and improving their living conditions. Inclusive design, however, should ensure a more humane and conscious design process that does not limit its attention solely to artifacts’ usability requirements but allows for the inclusion and evaluation of the emotional effects associated with interacting with them. This aspect is particularly important in the case of products and environments aimed at vulnerable, elderly, or disabled people, which can induce a perception of threat and stigmatize their physical and mental condition. Therefore, this article presents the results of the Home Care Design for Parkinson’s Disease research project. Through the literature review, it was possible to analyze the contribution of technologies in generating pleasurable sensory experiences but, more importantly, to investigate the role of Emotional Design and Evidence-Based Design approach. They can play a role in resolving problems related to environmental, perceptual-sensory, and stress factors and, in some cases, slowing down the course of the disease and ensuring greater well-being. Therefore, the research work, developed through the application of Human-Centered Design methodologies, aims to: (1) define Design Guidelines to identify people with Parkinson’s disease needs and difficulties within the home context; (2) set up an analytical method that proposes future intervention scenarios to improve their quality of life and that of their families and caregivers, through the mapping of emotional indicators.

This article describes an action research project aimed at defining guidelines for designing an inclusive and accessible environment for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The research was based on the Human-Centred Design and Inclusive Design approaches, which allowed the focus to be placed on the needs and expectations of people with PD and their caregivers through their direct involvement in the research activities.

The rise of awareness and attention around the concept of EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) within the scientific and professional communities working in design studies is apparent. However, ensuring high-quality education for all—Sustainable Development Goal 4—while educating future generations of designers in acting responsibly by preventing biased actions requires the higher education (HE) sector to appropriately interpret this multi-concept. A systematization of available knowledge is required to clearly depict main trends and developments made in the field in the last years. A systematic literature review of a sample of 56 works, selected from an original sample of 191 studies, both empirical and theoretical, performed in the field of design education allowed to identify trends, research themes, and disciplinary evolutions of the EDI concept into teaching and learning (T&L) environments. The extracted data show clear interweaves between EDI and design education through three research themes: (i) educational contexts, (ii) design disciplines, and (iii) emerging topics. Future research trajectories for advancing the field of design education are proposed from qualitative interpretation of findings. Synergies among interdisciplinary aspects provide rooms for critical reflection about the opportunities to progress the knowledge in the field within unexplored cultural domains.