Design and Disability

Dull exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum looking at design for and by disabled, deaf and neurodivergent people and communities.

I admit this show may have suffered from the fact I went to it after the Marie Antoinette exhibition however I found it drab and impenetrable in places. They also took a broad definition of design not only objects and fashion but also design for protest and items to make a point which I felt were nearer to being contemporary art than design.

I also have lots of gripes with the labels. Firstly that the labels which carefully numbered obects in a rather complex system with the room and object number. That in itself was fine but they then didn't number the actual objects so it you were scanning the works on display to work out which was the one you were reading about.

Secondly the language was trying to be so inclusive that it became convoluted and complex. From the introductory board which read "For those who are non-disabled or are less impacted, we ask that you witness and engage as an act of solidarity" I'm afraid I found it rather patronising.

What I did find interesting was the way the exhibition itself had been designed to make it more accessible such as colour clues to objects and putting carpet around the edge of display cases to give a different sensation as you got close to them.

Closes 15 February 2026


Review

Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/jun/06/design-and-disability-review-victoria-

 

 

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