Participation and Direction in Designing Prosthetic Hands

Description

This seminar is part of the School of Art & Design's Creative Innovation Across Disciplines Seminar Series and will be presented by Grahan Pullin, Reader in Disability-led Design at DJCAD, University of Dundee and author of the manifesto Design Meets Disability. The seminar will discuss the project Hands of X which is an exploration how materials might reposition a prosthetic hand as a Super Normal object. Hands of X is an exploration how materials might reposition a prosthetic hand as a Super Normal object: neither attempting to pass or to draw attention, reflecting a stance of 'no triumph, no tragedy' that many disabled people hold. Early workshops with wearers and makers eventually led to an experience prototype of a speculative service within an eyewear retailer. We are currently exploring the viability of this service in relation to the NHS. Wearers choose from a material palette (or seasonal collection). This involves a balance - and some tensions - between individual choice and creative direction, between participatory design and fashion design. As the project has evolved, we have found our focus shifting from the materials themselves, to meaningful choice, to feelings of ownership. And each reframing has recast the roles of participation and direction.

Period	4 Jul 2018
Event title	Creative Innovation Across Disciplines Seminar Series
Event type	Seminar
Location	Nottingham , United Kingdom