Frida Landau Lomholt

March 2024

Kyushu University

I’m thrilled to announce that, thanks to the Bevica Fonden, I had the incredible opportunity to attend an intensive course on Universal Design with a final international seminar charing knowledge at Kyushu University’s Strategic Design Department in Japan. During this program, we delved into the crucial role of designers in addressing loneliness within society and communities.

I gained valuable insights from a series of enlightening lectures delivered by experts in Universal Design solutions and human-centered design approaches, including Professor Hirai Yasuyuki, Professor Zhang Yanfang, Professor Tokushu Inamura, Professor Toshimitsu Sadamura, and Professor Melioranski Ruth-Helene.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the faculty and my fellow participants from both EKA – Estonian Academy of Fine Arts and Kyushu University for making this journey memorable. I’m especially grateful to Professor Sarantou Melanie for her hospitality in hosting me and for guiding me through public spaces that emphasize material and materiality in creating sensory wayfinding and a welcoming atmosphere.

I’m eager to apply the knowledge and insights gained from this experience to my studies, particularly in fostering sensory inclusion within cultural institutions.

Public transportation in Japan

In public transportation in Japan I experienced an exemplary approach to inclusive design including people with limited mobility and people with limited access to information. Also, for me, as a foreign visitor who does not speak Japanese and not knowing the patterns of movement in public spaces, I felt very much included in the design.

I would like to share some examples of how I felt included with my limitation. I strongly believe these solutions is helpful for a wide range of users:
· Each station has its own color, wall material, and unique symbol making it easier to identify. The symbols use animals, plants and everyday objects that are instantly recognizable.
· Speakers with bird sounds is placed above the exit points to identify the direction for exiting the station.
· Station layouts on the ground allow passenger to know the number of passengers each carriage can accommodate and where to stand in line for entering the trains without being in the way for people passing by.
· Large atriums and transparent materials are used to bring natural light underground and provide a feeling of spaciousness.

I got the opportunity to follow a lecture by Professor Toshimitsu Sadamura the leading architect and designer behind the city subway project in Fukuoka City, known for the first transportation system in the world to have a comprehensive inclusive design approach. Professor Toshimitsu Sadamura specified what he defines as design for everyone: “Design that compensates for inconvenience. Design that is easy to understand. Design that enhances individuality and confidence. Design that connects with people. Design that is sustainable. Design that makes you feel the joy of life.”

What I found most important from this lecture, as a design professional in spe, is: To design inclusive we need to design from outside-in. We must strive for common value creation – including people who were excluded from mainstream design.

Interview with Professor Hirai

I’m excited to share that, thanks to the Bevica Fonden, I recently had the privilege of interviewing Professor Yasuyuki Hirai, an experienced designer using inclusive design and design thinking for innovative approaches to human-centered solutions.

During our conversation, I gained invaluable insights into designing inclusively for public cultural places, where the innovations benefit all visitors, enhancing their overall experience.

Professor Hirai introduced me to his current work on a sound design project for the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, rethinking sound design, including incorporating environmental sounds for spatial orientation and redesigning audio captions to provide more engaging and informative experiences. Additionally, they are designing sound cues to guide navigation within the museum, providing sensory and spatial information.

This project aims to create a more inclusive environment by considering the unique needs of visually impaired visitors, allowing greater inclusion and increases independence, while offering immersive and interactive experiences where all visitors become active participants in the exhibition space.
His approach delves into the aspirations and needs of diverse users. Inclusive design proposes innovative solutions based on these aspirations, fostering gradual approval from a small group to a larger community. The emphasis on intersubjectivity ensures that designs resonate with users’ subjective experiences, bridging the gap between individual aspirations and broader societal needs.

Furthermore, Professor Hirai introduced me to the six exclusions by Julia Cassim that offers a comprehensive framework for understanding inclusion from a broader perspective. It provides with insights into various dimensions of exclusion that individuals may face in society, including physical, sensory, perceptual, digital, emotional, and economic exclusions.

By acknowledging and comprehending these diverse forms of exclusion, I aspire to engage with individuals who have different sensory needs, not only to create access and functional solutions, but also to gain a deeper understanding of how various stimuli are perceived and experienced. Aiming to enable me to stage sensory experiences or atmospheres for all visitors, promoting inclusivity in cultural spaces.

Reflecting on our discussion, Professor Hirai shared an insightful quote that resonated with me:

“Universal design, or designing for our future selves, is crucial for inclusivity. It’s about envisioning a society where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive. This iterative process involves continuous feedback and adaptation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and shared vision.”

As a design student focusing on inclusive experiences in cultural buildings, this quote emphasizes the need to create spaces where everyone can thrive, regardless of their abilities, through continuous feedback and inclusive design processes.

July 2024

Article in Byrummonitor

Today, I’ve published an article in Byrummonitor where I talk about how universal design has the potential to revolutionize our urban spaces by making them more inclusive and sensory stimulating.
Even though the city ring in Copenhagen is aesthetically built, I’m still wondering why there are no spaces for life. With light, sound and benches.

A big thank you to the Bevica Fonden for awarding me a Bevica Scholarship that enabled me to travel to Kyushu University, Strategic Design Department in Japan. Japan has set the standard for accessibility – also for those with sensory impairments. But what about Denmark? Should we follow suit?
Read more here! https://byrummonitor.dk/Debat/art9965025/I-verdens-f%C3%B8rste-universelt-designede-transportsystem-guider-h%C3%B8jtalere-med-fuglesang

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Frida Landau Lomholt: We should design from a diverse starting point

In Japan, solutions in public spaces are often grounded in Universal Design. Frida Landau Lomholt investigated how to apply that philosophy in her design process.

Main findings

“During my trip to Japan, I worked with professors teaching Universal Design. Here, I had the chance to visit the first universally designed metro system in Fukuoka. The system was built around senses, using colors and materials to guide passengers through the metro, as well as birdsong to lead you to the exit. 

As a designer, this showed me how to use light, sound, and texture as a way to design spaciousness. In my future endeavors, I will definitely draw inspiration from these methods.”

Use of Universal Design

“By thinking in Universal Design, you can create value for everyone, not just marginalized groups. Instead of designing from a starting point with a standardized human body, we should rather start from the outside with diverse bodies and needs. Because of Bevica, Universal Design has become a part of my DNA, as this has become my starting point, and not something to add in the end.“

Why others should apply

“Bevica has been a strong community, where you can always reach out if you need help with knowledge on Universal Design. Furthermore, the scholarship has given me great insight into valuable tools, such as applying for scholarships and pitching in front of people.”

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