05 Dec 2025
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) marked the 3 December International Day of Persons with Disabilities by hosting a multi-faceted event, “The Design of Care”, aiming at raising awareness, fostering dialogue, and advancing innovation in accessibility and inclusion.
Organised by the Department of Industrial Design in collaboration with the Suzhou Accessibility Promotion Association, the initiative brought together experts, educators, and students to explore interdisciplinary approaches to building a more inclusive world.
Emanuela Corti, organiser of the event and an associate professor?from the Department of Industrial Design, said that accessibility needed to be treated as a collective responsibility.
“Inclusive design is not a favour to a minority group; it is a way to improve society for everybody. When we design for difference, we design for better solutions. Education must train designers to listen, empathise, and collaborate across disciplines. Only then can accessibility become innovation instead of an afterthought.”
Emanuela Corti
The event opened with a keynote presentation by Jie Chen, Researcher at the Suzhou Silk Museum, who delivered a talk titled “The Development of Accessibility in Chinese Museums”.
She examined how cultural institutions had begun incorporating sensory, informational and emotional accessibility into exhibition practices, moving beyond simply removing physical barriers. Chen discussed examples such as tactile replicas, high-contrast exhibition labels, multi-sensory installations and sign-language support systems that had enhanced visitor engagement in museums across China.
Jie Chen
Her presentation also addressed challenges, including limited professional training, fragmented regulations and funding constraints. She argued that accessibility needed to be integrated into curatorial strategies, museum education and visitor services. “Inclusive museums are not only places for cultural display,” she said, “they must become emotionally supportive spaces where every visitor - regardless of ability - can participate, touch, interpret and enjoy.”
The event continued with a panel discussion titled “Bridging Technology, Academia, and Lived Experience”,?moderated by Associate Professor Ivan Parati?from the Department of Industrial Design. Panelists included Dr Linqing?Li from the Suzhou Accessibility Promotion Association, Dr Martijn Ten Bh?mer from the Department of Mechatronics and Robotics, Dr?Mariia Zolotova from the Department of Industrial Design, Silvia Albano from the Department of Architecture, and Dr Penelope Scott, Head of the Department of Applied Linguistics.
The discussion explored?the future of inclusive design, especially how collaboration between technology,?the?humanities, and science can create?a?tangible impact.?Speakers pointed out gaps between policy and practice need to be bridged, and highlighted that accessibility should not remain a checklist of regulations but a research-driven, experience-based process rooted in real needs and lived experience.
Dr Linqing Li
Afterwards, the Research and Academic Exhibition opened on the ground floor of the IBSS building, running from 3 to 5 December. The exhibition featured work from the Design School and the School of Advanced Technology, addressing inclusive public spaces, museum accessibility, speech and language support technology, and multi-sensory design methods.
It also showcased student latest projects from the module IND403 “Design for Social Innovation”. In collaboration with the Suzhou Silk Museum and Gusu District Special Education, this module challenged students to design inclusive solutions for enhancing the museum's learning experience for kids of all abilities.
Visitors were guided through the exhibition by teaching staff and students, demonstrating how insights from disability advocacy are translated into practical solutions.
Among the external participants were several members of the Suzhou Accessibility Promotion Organization. Other attendees included Liu Yanjing, Principal of Gusu Special Education School, and Mr Jiali Ju, founder of Boaiju (the Blind Association in Suzhou), who was accompanied by our students as they explored the exhibition.
The event concluded with a traditional Chinese dancer performing a blindfolded piece, demonstrating how art can convey meaning that transcends physical sight and perceived limitations.
By Yi Qian
Photos by Yi Qian
05 Dec 2025