About the project
Design for Inclusion was an EU funded project aimed at improving labour market access of people with disabilities and promoting their inclusion in society. The project built on the successful British Council Croatia's Extraordinary Design project from 2011-2012 in Zagreb and Osijek, which involved professional designers and disabled participants working together to create inclusive products which are also attractive for the market. Inclusive design is an innovative approach to promoting social inclusion, diversity and equality, which caters for the needs of people with disabilities, but also takes into account that we are all different and have different needs.
Design for Inclusion was aimed at unemployed people with disabilities and the local community in Požega-Slavonia County in Croatia and was carried out in partnership with the City of Požega and the MI Association of parents of children with special needs, and in association with the Croatian Designers Association. The main aim of the project was to contribute to the promotion of social inclusion of people with disabilities and increase their employability by developing their skills. The project also aimed to encourage participants to take an active approach in the labour market, as well as to enhance the level of social inclusion through the promotion of their work and abilities in the community.
Project Activities
The main activity of the project was the inclusive design workshop under the creative leadership of Julia Cassim which took place in Požega from 8 - 15 January 2016. Twenty professional designers, both from Croatia and abroad, worked with people with disabilities on the development of new products, and thus helped people with disabilities gain self-esteem, develop social competencies and recognise their own abilities. Professional designers participated in the process to ensure high quality products are created. The products should become a source of income for the MI Association once the project finishes.
Developed products were publicly exhibited on two occasions.
The first Exhibition of joint innovations: from the process of inclusion to products included the results of two Extraordinary Design workshops organised in Zagreb and Osijek and the results of the Design for Inclusion workshop in Požega. It took place at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb from 15 to 26 March 2016. It was opened by the Prince of Wales and the occasion was also used to mark the 70th anniversary of the British Council in Croatia.
