This paper examines how aesthetics can foster inclusion in everyday urban infrastructures, using recycling rooms in residential areas as a case study. Drawing on a design ethnographic study of 27 municipal recycling facilities, three interconnected dimensions – access aesthetics, communicative aesthetics, and spatial aesthetics – were identified. Environments that are neglected, dark, and smelly tend to exclude residents, while those designed with aesthetic considerations foster a sense of shared responsibility and well-being. By linking perceptions of aesthetics in recycling rooms to broader debates in universal design, this paper highlights how aesthetic qualities influence participation, social connection, and environmental practices. These findings contribute to the theoretical and practical agenda of inclusive design, positioning aesthetics as a dimension for more sustainable everyday recycling environments.

Urban mobility is a key mechanism through which the autistic community asserts their right to the city , more broadly representing the neurodiversity movement’s struggle for spatial justice. While public transport plays a critical role in facilitating mobility for the autistic community, limited research has examined their perspectives on how physical and social environmental factors shape their experiences and functioning in urban environments. This study aimed to examine the lived experience of autistic individuals and their caregivers in navigating public transport through the lens of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) . Employing an abductive approach, combining both inductive and deductive coding (guided by the ICF), analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 17 participants in Sweden identified four key themes: sensory overload, unpredictability, socio-spatial constraints, and inadequate support policies and public awareness. Findings underscore the role of environmental factors in shaping autistic individuals’ experience of accessing public transport. Importantly, findings highlight that despite growing recognition of the unique challenges faced by the autistic community in accessing public transport, this awareness is yet to translate into meaningful action and public policy. Importantly, there is a need for policies that move beyond physical accessibility, incorporating neuro-aware strategies, enhancing both the cognitive and sensory accessibility of public transport.

IntroductionThis study explores women’s experiences of pelvic floor (PF) care after childbirth, revealing significant insights into their physical and emotional journeys during the transformative period following birth in a Swedish tertiary hospital context. The focus is on women who sustained third- or fourth-degree PF injuries after vaginal birth, viewed through the perspective of universal design (UD).

Methods The study uses qualitative methods, observations, and interviews to illuminate challenges in PF care. Qualitative content analysis is used to identify themes emerging from participants’ narratives. Comics serve as a visual and multimodal method to depict the variety and sequencing of women’s narratives in multimodal ways.

Results The analysis identified two main themes. The first, the Bubbleverse, is a metaphor for women’s experiences across interconnected phases of birth and recovery, where PF injuries were often overshadowed by vaginal birth, newborn care, and future uncertainty. The second theme reflected women’s recommendations for healthcare, calling for timely, individualised communication, and structured support.

Conclusions The study concludes with a call to reconfigure the fragmented and underprioritised aftercare. Alternative care pathways tailored to individual needs are essential for more equitable PF care.

Background:The adoption of eHealth accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inequalities in the adoption of eHealth during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported, but there are few such studies among people with impairment.

Objectives:This study aimed to investigate self-reported use and difficulty in the use of eHealth before the COVID-19 pandemic compared to during late social distancing restrictions in Sweden, among people with and without impairment, as well as between different types of impairment.

Methods:A cross-sectional survey was distributed twice by snowball sampling to people with self-reported impairment and a general population matched by age, gender, and county. Use and difficulty in the use of six eHealth services were compared between groups using chi-square test and logistic regression with year interaction terms, reported as odds ratio adjusted (aOR) for gender and age with 95% CI.

Results:The surveys included 1631 (in 2019) and 1410 (in 2021) participants with impairment, and 1084 (in 2019) and 1223 (in 2021) participants without. Participants with impairment, compared to those without impairment, reported less use and more difficulty in booking health care appointments online, digital identification, and the Swedish national web portal for health information and eHealth services (1177.se), both before and during the pandemic (P=.003 or lower). Video health care appointments were the exception to this disability digital divide in eHealth as video appointment adoption was the most likely among participants with attention, executive, and memory impairments (interaction term aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.30‐3.39). Nonuse and difficulty in the use of eHealth were consistently associated with language impairments and intellectual impairments. For example, language impairments were inversely associated with use of the logged-in eHealth services in 1177.se in 2021 (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.36‐0.67) and were associated with difficulty in the use of 1177.se in 2019 (aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.50‐3.36) and the logged-in eHealth services in 1177.se in 2021 (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.32‐2.70). Intellectual impairments were inversely associated with the use of the logged-in eHealth services in 1177.se in 2021 (aOR 0.19, 95% CI 0.13‐0.27).

Conclusions:This repeated cross-sectional survey study, including participants with diverse types of impairment and a control group without impairment, reveals persisting disability digital divides, despite an accelerated adoption of eHealth across the pandemic. eHealth services were not accessible to some groups of people who were identified as being at risk of severe disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. This implies that all people could not use eHealth as a measure of infection protection.

PurposeTo contribute to an in-depth understanding of how the concepts accessibility, usability, and universal design interact and can be harmonised to create conditions for participation in the 21st century.Material and MethodsIdeas, empirical research, and selected literature from health science, engineering, and design constituted the material for a scientifically grounded analysis.ResultsWe describe recent developments, how the concepts relate to and complement each other, and the synergies they create. Reflecting on the lack of clarity in their application, we argue that definitions are crucial and that the concepts can be combined and harmonised in a synergistic entity: The participation of all is the ultimate goal of society. Universal Design is the value-based vision and approach to design grounded in human rights that, through intersectionality and involvement, should permeate all aspects of society to create the best possible conditions for participation for all citizens. Accessibility and usability are tools for operationalising and translating universal design into practice, applicable at the individual, group, and societal levels.ConclusionIntended for implementation at all these levels, we propose a harmonised model where the concepts are explicitly defined and closely connected, with each other and the conditions to reach participation at scale.

Inclusive urban design relies on the participation of disabled persons. This study examines how the involvement of this group is perceived and managed in three revitalization initiatives applying current legal and moral requirements, e.g. ‘universal design’. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on go-along interviews and participant observation in projects related to public places and buildings in three Swedish cities. Two participation styles were developed: Consultation and Partnership. Officials were focused on Consultation while disability organizations desired Partnership. There were overlapping styles in terms of organization, identification, and internal tensions, leading to misunderstandings about collaboration, participants’ legitimacy, and opportunities for influence.

An accident on a passenger ferry may lead to evacuation using lifeboats or liferafts, a process that can be both complex and hazardous. This paper investigates the level of safety for passengers during evacuation based on field study and interview data. In the analysis, the eight goals of Universal Design (UD) were tailored and used to explore what ship and interior characteristics influence evacuation performance and the demands placed on the crew and passengers, and whether all passengers have equal chances of completing evacuation safely. Results suggest that while a ship may fulfil regulation, completing an evacuation may pose challenges for passengers with varying abilities, for example, when attempting to perceive emergency information or move through the ship. In addition, it was found that an evacuation may present the crew with challenges and difficult trade-offs that are not always accounted for in the ship’s design, equipment and safety organization. It is concluded that the use of a UD approach in ship design, based on a truthful representation of passenger demographics, could enhance passenger safety and provide for evacuation on equal terms.

PURPOSE: Assistance from artefacts and humans are traditionally viewed as separate, and it is often up to the individual to try to combine the different kinds of assistance to suit their needs and preferences. The purpose of this study was to gain new insights into the co-existence of and synergies between artefactual and human assistance in the everyday lives of persons with physical and cognitive impairments, through exploring and analysing narratives of individuals who have first-hand knowledge and experience.

METHODS: Seven individuals took part in semi-structured interviews, which were then analysed with qualitative content analysis, grounded in cultural-historical activity theory.

RESULT: The participants were active agents with agendas, dreams, and needs, who shaped and made use of many different combinations of human and artefactual assistance, both formal and informal. They did this in ways that suited each person's preferences and circumstances and were often seen as complementary and synergistical. Flexible assistance could make limited energy resources last throughout the day, while less flexible or not individually tailored assistance was found to be less useful or appreciated. Assistance that was well integrated into a person's routines could become invisible and make the person feel independent despite severe impairments.

CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes new knowledge regarding how persons with disabilities utilize and mould artefactual and human assistance according to the activities they engage in as part of everyday life. When synergistical assistance works, different kinds of assistance flow seamlessly into one another and adjustment of plans and improvisations happen in the moment.

Since 2003, Kamikatsu in Japan has established a sustainable zero-waste practice that has achieved a recycling rate exceeding 80%. By exploring how the community has shaped itself around the zero-waste concept, this paper aims to enhance our understanding of zero waste in practice from a universal design perspective. Interviews and photo documentation were used to gather data. The zero-waste concept was not driven by technical solutions. Instead, the results highlight what initiatives contributed to the design of the zero-waste concept. Key themes presented include fostering a lifestyle shift, changing norms, creating co-located experiences, establishing an incentive system, and developing self-awareness routines. The paper also addresses the challenges and opportunities from a universal design perspective when applying zero waste, emphasizing the importance of designing for diverse needs while promoting long-term environmental sustainability. This research contributes to the understanding of zero waste practices, combining the ecological dimension with the social dimension of sustainable development.

Designforskningens oumbärlighet

Av Anna-Sara Fagerholm, Karina Göransson och Per-Olof Hedvall

Design har betydelse i samhällsbygget eftersom den gestaltade livsmiljön påverkarmänniskor i deras vardag (1). Inom designämnena vid Mittuniversitetet bidrar vitill att lösa samhällets utmaningar när det gäller hållbar utveckling med kopplingtill miljö, människa, mångfald, mat och medicin. Det gör vi genom att arbeta medforskning som tillämpar och bygger vidare på våra kompetenser inom gestaltningoch designmetodik. Genom designforskning, i nära samverkan med människor ochmiljö, arbetar vi för att förverkliga omställningen till förnybar grön energi, återvinningpå alla samhällets skalor, cirkulär ekonomi och alla människors rätt till god hälsa,välbefinnande och inkluderande livsmiljöer. Forskningen kännetecknas av att denkombinerar konstnärliga och vetenskapliga arbetssätt och drar nytta av de tre ämnenaindustridesign, grafisk design och fotografi.Att skapa saker för ett ändamål har sin uppkomst samtidigt som mänskligheten.

Behovet av att designa går tillbaka till våra förfäder och design som praktik har funnits i mer än 2,5 miljoner år, ända sedan de första spjuten och verktygen tillverkades (2, 3). Idag handlar design om utveckling av symboler, produkter, miljöer, processer, tjänster,program och system. Gemensamt är att designlösningarna har tillkommit med ensärskild avsikt och för att lösa olika behov. Tidigare och nuvarande generationer hardesignat sig in i den ohållbara situation som samhället är i just nu. Design är en lösningför att slå in på vägen mot en samhällsutveckling som är mänskligt, ekonomiskt ochekologiskt hållbar. Det finns på så vis en transformativ kraft i design som både kanöppna upp för utveckling och förhindra den.

Människa och miljö i fokus

I forskningen tillämpar vi ett universal design-perspektiv som innebär ett normkritisktmångfaldstänk och att den design som tas fram är inkluderande. Ett hållbartsamhälle bygger på omsorgsfullt gestaltade och inkluderande livsmiljöer med godaförutsättningar att påverka utvecklingen av den gemensamma miljön (1). Design somen utvecklingskraft för förändring präglar både våra grundutbildningar och forskning.Det synsättet kan i sin tur spåras tillbaka till Nobelpristagaren Herbert Simon sompoängterade att design handlar om att förflytta en situation till en önskad situation (4). Karaktäristiskt är att vi utvecklar kunskap genom samskapande designprocesser där människa och miljö är i fokus. Forskningen är situerad och bygger på metoder som handlar om att vara i samhället och fånga skeenden i sin kontext. Problem somundersöks utvecklas och konkretiseras parallellt och i takt med att designlösningaroch resultat växer fram. I designprocesser är det sällan klart från början vilka genomarbetade designlösningar som skapas längre fram eftersom processen äriterativ och kreativ.

Gör skillnad regionalt och globalt

Vi fokuserar på tillgänglighet och delaktighet och att genom universell utformningmotverka diskriminering och öka inkludering (5). Det kan exempelvis beröra hur designkan bidra till hållbara aktiviteter i vardagen; i ett forskningsprojekt i Örnsköldsvikundersöks vilka mekanismer som styr våra attityder och beteenden och hur design kanha betydelse för att förbättra avfallshanteringen i kommunen (6). Designforskningenär ofta tvärvetenskaplig; i ett samarbete med Härnösands kommun var fokus hållbaralivsmedelssystem genom co-design och visualisering med inriktning på foodtechoch industriell symbios (7). I ett annat forskningsprojekt med Härnösands kommunär forskare från olika ämnen involverade där inflytande och delaktighet definieras,tillämpas och bedöms. Avsikten i den studien är att utveckla design som stödjervardagskompetensen för unga personer med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning.Andra exempel handlar om att söka ny kunskap genom konstnärlig praktik relateradtill platser av energiutvinning och miljöförändringar. Ett av forskningsprojektenfokuserar på Nämforsen, Ångermanälvens första vattenkraftverk, som en plats förkollektivt minne (8). I en studie tillsammans med Forum för genusforskning varjämlikhet och lika villkor centralt i design av en applikation mot härskartekniker.Designforskningen samverkar med Kvinnokliniken vid Region Västernorrland inomområdet hälsa och välfärd med syfte att stödja jämlik egenvård av kvinnor medbäckenbottenskador, och ett av resultaten har implementerats i vården i Kramfors (9).Vi intresserar oss även för hur visuella perspektiv kan öppna upp för mångfaldstänkför såväl individer som organisationer (10). Ett exempel är en studie som utforskar hurvisuella strategier används på organisationsnivå för att möjliggöra interaktivitet ochdeltagande handlingar, vilket i sin tur utgör kärnan i designaktivism (11).

Vi identifierar, undersöker och förändrar det som skaver i samhället. Vi utvecklarkunskap för en värld som svarar mot människors behov och vår miljö. Vi harredskap att ta oss an komplexa problem, visualisera scenarion och föreslå lösningar.Designforskningen vid Mittuniversitetet är oumbärlig för hållbar utveckling regionaltoch globalt.

Referenser

1. Sveriges Regering. Gestaltande livsmiljö [Internet]. 2017. Available from: https://www.regeringen.se/contentassets/8ecb8b5973924e6b9e93627c041d27a6/politik-forgestaltadlivsmiljo-prop.-201718110.pdf2. Nelson HG, Stolterman E. The Design Way: Intentional Change in an Unpredictable World. TheMIT Press; 2014.3. Redström J. Making Design Theory. The MIT Press; 2017.4. Simon H.A. The Sciences of the Artificial. 3rd ed. MIT Press; 1969.5. Hedvall P-O, Price M, Keller J, Ericsson S. Towards 3rd Generation Universal Design: ExploringNonclusive Design. Transforming Our World through Universal Design for Human Development.2022. p. 85–92. 94 GLOB AL A UTMANINGAR – LOK AL A LÖSNINGAR6. Fagerholm A, Haller H, Warell A, Hedvall P. What a Waste – A norm-critical design studyon how waste is understood and managed. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances.2023;19:200178.7. Haller H, Fagerholm A, Carlsson P, Skoglund W, van den Brink P, Danielski I, Brink K, MuratM,et al. Towards a Resilient and Resource-Efficient Local Food System Based on Industrial Symbiosisin Härnösand: A Swedish Case Study. Sustainability. 2022;14.8. Thompson LM. (In)visible powers: witnessing the ‘tourist-waters’ of Nämforsen. CulturalGeographies. 2023;30(2):325-332.9. Sahin S. Tjänstedesignprojekt på barnmorskemottagningen i Kramfors [Internet]. Designscen.2021. Available from: https://designscen.se/tjanstedesignprojekt-pabarnmorskemottagningeni-kramfors/.10. Göransson K, Fagerholm A. Towards visual strategic communications: An innovativeinterdisciplinary perspective on visual dimensions within the strategic communications field.Journal of Communication Management. 2018;22(1):46–66.11. Fagerholm A-S, Göransson K, Thompson L, Hedvall P-O. Activism online: Exploring howcrises are communicated visually in activism campaigns. Journal of Contingencies andCrisisManagement. 2023;1–10