"Disability in Design: A Focus on Disabled Individuals Throughout the Ages" - V&A Exhibit Spotlights Design Influence on the Disabled Community
Breaking Barriers, Shaping the Future: Design & Disability at V&A South Kensington
This groundbreaking exhibition, unfolding at the V&A South Kensington in the bustling heart of London, shines a spotlight on the revolutionary influences of disabled, Deaf, and neurodivergent individuals in the world of design. Led by curator Natalie Kane, the exhibit flips the script on the traditional narrative by spotlighting the substantial role of these communities in the industry, challenging perceptions of who can indeed be a designer.
The exhibition transcends the surface of artistic creation to delve deep into the transformative potential of design as a tool for social change and justice. The objects showcased, all brimming with lived experiences, shatter discriminatory attitudes, even within the design sector itself. By doing so, the exhibition strives to inspire a more welcoming society, one that caters to a broader spectrum of needs and desires.
"Disabled people have never vanished; we've always been designing and crafting things," Kane clarifies. "We might feel obscured, but society's perspective has often concealed our presence rather than our actions."
As temperatures shift and perceptions evolve, Kane hopes that the exhibit will serve as a catalyst for change. "We're still sometimes seen as guests, but the tides are turning," continuest Kane.
While the exhibition boasts a diverse collection of 170 pieces from the 1940s to the present, it does not aim to provide a comprehensive historical survey. Kane explains that such an endeavor would be "unattainable." Instead, the exhibit aims to capture the contemporary dialogue surrounding disability, establishing disability as a unique identity and cultural landscape.
The exhibition's layout is neatly organized into three sections: 'Visibility', 'Tools', and 'Living.' Each section presents a kaleidoscope of design, art, architecture, fashion, and photography. The exhibition itself is designed with inclusivity in mind, featuring British Sign Language (BSL) guides, audio description, tactile surfaces, additional seating, and rest areas.
For Kane, the opportunity to curate such an exhibit represents a significant milestone, blending her academic background in the intersection of design, ethics, and society with her lived experience as a disabled individual. "I've been pondering: how do I infuse the delight and significance of my community into a museum that invests so much in design?"
Exploring some of the highlights of the exhibit, Kane guides us through a journey of transformative designs shaping the narrative of disability, identity, and creativity.
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Hands of X, by Graham Pullin, Andrew Cook, Eddie Small, and Corinne Hutton, 2016-2020
This thought-provoking project invited prosthetics wearers with limb differences or amputations to collaborate intensively with prosthetists, allowing participants to have a say in material selection and design. By questioning the conventional notion that designs for the disabled should be primarily technical and pragmatic, this collaboration democratizes the design process and empowers individuals to reclaim their creativity. As Kane points out, "Why can't you have custom prosthetics, just like you can choose custom glasses?"
"The best lovers are good with their hands", by Harry McAuslan, 1987
Originating from a campaign by the British Deaf Association and AIDS Ahead, this striking poster promotes HIV prevention among the Deaf community through British Sign Language (BSL) fingerspelling. "Wear a condom" is its bold message. Kane identifies the poster as an essential part of the exhibition, shedding light on the historical lack of health education targeted at the Deaf community and the persistent need for such resources today.
Photographs from the Jaipur Foot Project by Simon Way, 2014
The Jaipur Foot Project offers free prosthetic limbs, feet, and arms to individuals across India, many of whom have become disabled due to landmines or illness. "Disability can occur due to various factors, including colonialism, capitalism, war, and conflict," Kane explains. The Jaipur Foot prosthetics, produced in labs across India, are designed to accommodate daily activities such as squatting, sitting cross-legged, and going barefoot, all in response to community feedback and local cultural norms. The exhibition presents a series of photographs by Simon Way, showcasing the creators and wearers of these prosthetics.
Squeeze Chair (chaise longue) by Wendy Jacob and Temple Grandin, 1997
This luxurious and intimate chair, developed in collaboration between artist Wendy Jacob and autistic scientist Temple Grandin, revolves around the idea of providing comforting sensory feedback for individuals who appreciate deep-pressure stimulation.
"When we consider neurodiversity, it's often about treatment rather than pleasure," explains Kane. This chair embodies the opposite, serving as an indulgent and "demedicalized" reminder that items with specific functions can also cater to personal desires and preferences.
"Engineering at Home" by Cindy Wack Garni, Sara Hendren, and Caitrin Lynch, 2016
When Cindy Wack Garni became disabled in her seventies, everyday activities like applying makeup became challenges. However, through simple yet practical adaptations to items such as zip purses and eyeliner pencils, Garni revolutionized her routine. "I adore this [project] as an example of how everyone is an engineer in countless ways," Kane states. Garni's adaptations highlight the significance of circumstance-driven design and underscore the vital contributions of the disabled community in shaping perceptions of design past and future.
"Design and Disability" can be seen at V&A South Kensington in London from 7th June 2025 to 15th February 2026.
- The exhibition, 'Design and Disability', highlighting the significant influence of disabled individuals in the realms of design and art, will feature home-and-garden items that cater to diverse needs and preferences, demonstrating how a creative lifestyle can be seamlessly integrated into every aspect of life.
- As the exhibition immerses visitors in a world that redefines the concept of design, it will include an array of domestic objects, such as adjusted makeup applicators and custom prosthetics, displaying how these creations mirror the unique lifestyle of individuals with disabilities, thereby breaking stereotypes and promoting inclusivity within home-and-garden settings.
