Helen Charoupia, Jenny Darzentas, Tim Bruder, Andrea Conserva, and Chiara Farinea
Inclusive design has traditionally focused on human diversity, accessibility, and equity, while the emerging field of multispecies design foregrounds the perspectives and needs of non-human life. How might we extend inclusive design to incorporate environmental concerns within complex ecological interdependencies? This paper explores this question through a systemic design lens that embraces principles of complexity, variety and resilience. Drawing on systemic design’s legacy of addressing interconnected challenges, as well as the nascent principles of multispecies design, we posit that inclusive design can be expanded beyond social justice to integrate ecological responsibility in practice. We begin by establishing a theoretical foundation, synthesising approaches ranging from ecological and posthumanist thinking to inclusive design principles, providing a conceptual grounding for our proposal. Recognising that design operates within complex socio-ecological systems, where human diversity and biodiversity are not separate, we discuss opportunities for integrating diverse actors’ perceptions, knowledge, insights, and ways of being. We then propose a three-phase framework for extending inclusive design to address planetary concerns. To demonstrate this approach, we present a design intervention of a multisensory vertical garden that employs the proposed methodological guidelines. Our work aims to stimulate further inquiry into evolving design practices that account for human and non-human interdependencies, nurturing socially just and environmentally sustainable futures.
Keywords: inclusive design; design justice; multispecies design; more-than-human design