Status: In Development
Designers can often be distant from the realities of lived experience.
Spaces in Motion is a developing series of short-form animations designed to bridge that gap.
Rather than acting as another design checklist, these visual tools highlight the physical and emotional realities of how diverse users actually navigate the built environment.
This project is awaiting funding, but is intended to cover some of the topics below:
There is a wealth of information regarding dementia design, but without a foundational understanding of what life with dementia actually looks like, it is difficult for designers to implement this guidance in a meaningful way.
These short-form animations will unpack specific scenarios, such as navigating a new space or using a bathroom. They will highlight the sensory and spatial realities of what these experiences may feel like to a user living with dementia.
The hope is that this will act as a foundation. Once designers are aware of the potential spatial conflicts, they are better equipped to seek out and apply specialised design guidance.
The ultimate goal is for more public buildings to actively consider the needs of people living with dementia, enabling them to continue their authentic lives for as long as possible.
How do commercial cleaners service a space?
How do they avoid the curtains getting damp when they mop the floor?
How do they get food out of the crevices of dining chairs?
How does a carer actually shower a resident of a care home? How do they avoid getting wet? Where do they put their towels?
Designers cannot experience every detail of every user's daily life. Often, these practical realities are missed in the design process. Without investing hours into walk-throughs and interviews, it is difficult to efficiently get a hands-on understanding of each user group.
Whilst this resource does not replace the need to engage directly with users, it is intended as a foundation to highlight common spatial considerations that are often overlooked.
How does a user with a stoma bag use a bathroom?
How does someone with a catheter manage their equipment?
What does good bathroom design look like for them?
Unless a designer has personal experience, or knows someone who does, we are unlikely to know.
In this series, we will interview specific users with poorly understood accessible needs and highlight the reality of their daily experiences.
This is intended to allow designers to improve upon the standard 'Doc M' accessible bathroom by designing spaces that truly consider and meet users' needs.
Sophia@Spiradesign.co
