Top tips for design educators

Roger Coleman's tips for design educators and research organisations

• Highlight aspects of inclusive design as well as the importance of social change as a driver for new ways of living and working across design management courses. In certain instances, it may be appropriate to introduce separate modules on these issues. All professionals working in design, engineering, construction, industry and public services should be able to deal competently with such issues.
• Ensure that the core competencies of understanding and effectively handling of inclusivity and related user issues are requirements if you offer professional qualifications. Keeping up to date through continuing professional development should also be stipulated.
• Promote further research into aspects of inclusive design, especially to demonstrate how inclusive design can be introduced effectively within different kinds of organisation, whether in the private, public or not-for-profit sectors.
• Document experience in professional practice to highlight the benefits derived from an inclusive design approach, as well as the pitfalls to be avoided.
• Provide any such initiatives with support from appropriate resources, information and tools available via the internet, and special collections at key research institutions.