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Over at InterDependence, a group of 3rd-year Otago University design students have come up with an illustration for Otago’s Disability Support Services, featuring an image of a man in a ‘wire-frame’ wheelchair, with the caption “see me for me, not my wheels”.
They say:
We tend to see someone in a wheelchair, for example, and allow their disability to colour our perception of them as a person. It is presented in a way that creates empathy instead of avoidance of difference.
While their intentions are positive and entirely commendable, I personally feel the image reinforces the stereotype that disabled people are isolated, invisible, and the overtones of grey are aesthetically a little dull. But maybe I’m hating for no good reason. What do you think of the image?
PS. I don’t think the image has been officially adopted by Otago University yet, so I’d be interested (as would they, I’m sure) to hear what you think…
5 responses so far ↓
1 Allyson // Jun 5, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Unfortunately the wheelchair is the international symbol for disability. I’ve always found this frustrating because I have cerebral palsy and can walk. Lets find 3 or 4 symbols that can be combined into 1 disability symbol, to reflect the diversity in the disability community.
2 Alex // Jun 10, 2008 at 11:23 am
Hey we like your blog and your critical approach! I’m their superviser for this project, I’ll suggest cropping him so he’s less isolated, and using a lighter stroke on the chair so it’s more ‘invisible’.
3 Alex // Jun 10, 2008 at 11:57 am
Yes the universal chair icon might kind of leave out a lot of people, or maybe create some public misunderstanding. I haven’t looked deeply into better ideas. We could try multiple emblems, or a new singular one, or even none at all eg. just use typography. What usually turns out bad is sythesising a lot of different meanings into one stylised figure.
Hey also, here’s a breakdown of the disabilities in our university, also illustrated by Amanda:
http://designinterdependence.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/pieweb11.jpg
4 Moxy13 // Jun 16, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Why do we still brand people that are different by assuming they have a disability ? Is it not societies disability to presume judgment upon people that may be in a wheelchair or use a cane or sign interpreter ? These people have ability don’t take it away by creating a graphic poster trying to say “we understand your disability” …How about “we can offer you universal access” which would denote a non-categorized way of trying to approach persons with varied abilities.
5 Axel // Jun 22, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I think the “invisibility” aspect comes across in the visual starkness of the illustration, not necessarily whether the wheelchair is highlighted or not. For a wheelchair user it could be possible that, in a design sense, the wheelchair is almost an extension of the person and can be very much part of their representation of themselves. Actually, if someone wants to work on crutches that are classically attractively and functionally/ durably designedfor heavy users (ie, I use them a lot and am fairly rough with them) I would be so happy!
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