[music] I would like you to close your eyes, please. Just for a few seconds, imagine you're not able to see. You're trying to read a book, but the pages are blank.You're trying to check your phone, but the screen is just smooth pane of glass. You're trying to navigate a new city, but all the street signs and the landmark are invisible. Now please open your eyes before you fall asleep.For you that was an exercise for me. This has been my reality for so long. It's a life that is lived on the edge of design. I ...

Disaster Recovery Challenges - Current disaster recovery systems disproportionately disadvantage those with fewer economic resources, accelerating displacement and potentially leading to a "land grab" by corporations [6][7][8] - Existing recovery processes often fail to meet fundamental needs, resulting in original residents being displaced from their communities [8] - Tenants and Black homeowners, particularly in West Altadena, face the highest risk of permanent displacement following disasters [9][10][13] Universal Design Approach to Disaster Recovery - Universal design focuses on designing recovery around people instead of property or profit, prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable [8][15] - A universal design recovery necessitates directing resources and planning towards those most at risk of displacement [15][16] - Short-term strategies include a post-disaster universal basic income program and an insurance gap program to stabilize tenants and homeowners [17][18] - Medium-term strategies involve land banking through community land trusts, policy protections, and rebuilding that prioritizes residents' needs [19][20] - Long-term strategies emphasize community ownership and protections against gentrification and displacement [20][21] Call to Action - The report urges government, philanthropy, and community members to support a universal design approach to disaster recovery through advocacy, funding, and prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable [21][22][23]

Accessibility & Inclusivity in the Beauty Industry - The beauty industry often equates inclusivity with shade range, but it should extend to marketing representation, independent shopping experiences, product identification by touch, and ease of opening [7] - Universal design benefits everyone, not just disabled people, and should be intentionally integrated into product design [9][12] - Including disabled people in the design process leads to innovation and products that are better for everyone [17][19] Market Opportunity - The global disability market exceeds 15 billion people with a disposable income of over 26 trillion in Europe and North America alone [20] - Brands that embrace universal design are more competitive, inclusive, and future-forward, and those that don't are missing out on a significant market opportunity [21] - Disability drives innovation, which in turn drives results and increased product sales [23] Design & Innovation - Tactile markers, clear gradients, and scent cues are examples of accidental universal design that can be intentionally implemented [11][12] - Rare Beauty's accessible packaging, designed with input from a blind woman and considering Selena Gomez's lupus, demonstrates the benefits of inclusive design [15][16] - Universal design is not just about compliance, but about empathy and creativity, adding value to products rather than detracting from them [19]

Core Argument - The design industry predominantly focuses on visual aspects, neglecting other senses, leading to an impoverished environment [5][6][7] - The industry should shift from sight-centered design to sense-centered design, incorporating touch, hearing, scent, and memory to create richer, more responsive, and human-centered spaces [23][24] - The industry needs to involve all users in the design process, not just experts, to create spaces that belong to everyone [21][22][23] Sensory Design & Empathy - The industry can learn from visually impaired individuals to understand how to navigate spaces through all senses [3][4][5] - Experiential exercises, such as using low vision simulators and blindfolds, can foster empathy and inform design thinking [10][11] - Integrating sensory experiences and empathy into the design process can lead to more inclusive and user-friendly spaces [13][24] Design Tools & Communication - The industry can utilize tools like sensory design cards to facilitate communication between educators, students, stakeholders, and architects [14][15][20] - These cards can bridge the gap between technical expertise and user experience, enabling mutual understanding and collaborative decision-making [15][16][20] - The design cards categorize sensory considerations like clarity, acoustics, environmental sensory, pathfinding, materials, textures, and lighting [18]