Abstract
This paper revisits inclusive design by moving beyond its traditional emphasis on individual accessibility, which tends to overlook the relational dimension of inclusion. It proposes a paradigm of trustworthy connectedness, in which inclusion is conceptualised not merely as individual participation, but as the facilitation of relational ties between the designer or researcher and the individual or group. Inclusive design often relies on participatory methods, yet when participation and control become central, they risk silencing the very groups these approaches seek to include. Rather than participation or decision control, trustworthy connectedness, expressed through the designer’s competence and warmth, is central to an inclusive approach. This conceptual paper introduces a framework to distinguish an inclusive approach from a participatory approach and outlines an agenda for future research. This shift invites a reimagination of how inclusion is understood and practised in design research.
Keywords
Inclusive design, participatory approach, silenced voices
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.2143
Citation
van Hest, I., van Zeeland, E., and Henseler, J. (2026) Inclusive design revisited: A paradigm of trustworthy connectedness, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.2143
Creative Commons License
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Included in
Inclusive design revisited: A paradigm of trustworthy connectedness
This paper revisits inclusive design by moving beyond its traditional emphasis on individual accessibility, which tends to overlook the relational dimension of inclusion. It proposes a paradigm of trustworthy connectedness, in which inclusion is conceptualised not merely as individual participation, but as the facilitation of relational ties between the designer or researcher and the individual or group. Inclusive design often relies on participatory methods, yet when participation and control become central, they risk silencing the very groups these approaches seek to include. Rather than participation or decision control, trustworthy connectedness, expressed through the designer’s competence and warmth, is central to an inclusive approach. This conceptual paper introduces a framework to distinguish an inclusive approach from a participatory approach and outlines an agenda for future research. This shift invites a reimagination of how inclusion is understood and practised in design research.