Whenever we think of designing an object, building, or open space, cultural context always seem to be left out with no or little consideration. How we can endorse a design process with a strong cultural awareness of ethnic diversities within one or several communities is with no doubt to me one of the most important questions designers need to elaborate on in this era. As globalization spread all over the world in the past 15 years, we started to notice its advantages and disadvantages. As the easiness of communications is one of the positive contributions of globalization, the fact that several cultures and languages are disappearing all over the world can be also attributed to globalization. One example of products where I found myself disadvantaged with is computer keyboards. Keyboards are means of communication but at the same time they are not sensitive towards languages. I bought a new PC four months ago and although I had the option to customize my own I could not have my keyboard accommodating two languages (English and my Native language). Back in my country such keyboards are available in market, but since I got my PC from the US I could not find what I was looking for. And now my only solution is to buy keyboard stickers.

When traveling I like to bring my laptop to pass the time and stay connect via wifi / social networks. Not all airports seem to realize that the people who end up spending long periods of time waiting in their building need access to outlets for various electronic equipment. While I was waiting for a plane to Europe I had the unpleasant task of trying to locate an outlet for my laptop. I finally found one low on a column in the middle of the hall. To use this only existing outlet I had to sit on the floor and watch a movie while just out of my cords reach was a comfy chair. It really wouldn’t have taken much to realize the need for these outlets to be embedded in the floor closer to the waiting areas.  

Male, mixed, 23, 5’10″ 160lbs

As a neuropsychologist, my father designed a school for students to whom the mainstream schools weren’t adapted. Not only he designed the space of the school for easy way finding, great natural and artificial lightning, and considering crowding, but be also created a new way to teach these kids. All of the exercises they have to learn from are computer based, and that permits greater possibilities to help children that all have different kinds of problems. For example, a child that has trouble reading could have the exercise read to him by an automated computer voice. Or one that has sight problems could have the text blown-up to the exact good letter size. Also, there was a lot of thought put to the furnishing of the classes. The seating is higher in the classes for the children to be able to choose whether they want to study standing or seating. The colors of the furniture are bright to stimulate and please the kids.

Female, Causasian, 21, 5″6′, 132

I have done various commercial and residential HVAC work around Chicago for over 10 years now. There have been countless times when I have arrived at a home or a place of business to repair an air conditioner, furnace or fridge and the space that the equipment was located had virtually no space to work. It seems that architectural designers assume nothing ever breaks so they place all this equipment in a space designed to fit that equipment, and that equipment only. I do understand that equipment rarely breaks when its new, however, buildings usually have a life span of 25+ years, and when equipment begins to get older, parts start to degrade or break at a more frequent interval, and eventually the whole unit needs to be replaced, but how are the repairmen supposed to fix, or replace, this equipment there is no room to do so? I also understand equipment rooms are usually treated as a secondary space, where most users do not have access, but accessibility by repairmen is imperative and their livelihood is dependent on whether or not they can fix the broken equipment.

6′, 210 lbs, Asian, Male

Cruise ships are a wonderful experience, providing exceptional service to their guests. An open tab enables guests to buy or purchase things without feeling the guilt of overspending. Poolside snacks, open bars, special pampering, and entertainment – it all feels free when you’re not handing the cash over every time. To most people, this sounds like a great way to let loose, relax, and not worry about reality for a few days.

But in a way, this luxury actually disadvantages the guest. By intentional design, cruise ships encourage people to buy things they don’t need. This is where the ships make most of their money! I’ve heard too many stories of people who are leaving the cruise and, upon checking out, they end up paying a tab that is much larger than what they could actually afford. People who are thrifty and ever-conscious of their money may not fall into this trap. But for those people who have a more difficult time holding onto their savings, this luxury is a major disadvantage.

White, Female, 23, 5′ 3″, 110 lbs.

Temple Buell Hall, a building at the University of Illinois, has a Southern stairwell and a Western stairwell that overheat majority of the time. This is a disadvantage to me because I am very sensitive to extreme temperature changes. When I go from hot to cold weather, I have a tendency to faint. Another way it is a disadvantage is at night. Well leaving down the western stair that is close to the parking lot, I am visible to strangers outside. They can watch me descend down the stairs from far away and they could have time to approach me as I head for my car. Since the university has had recent problems with assault, this makes me wary of those stairs at night.

Female, Caucasian, 23yrs old, 5’5 and 125lbs

Female, white, 25, 5′ 4″, 125lbs

Male, White, 23, 6’0″, 160 lbs