Post #1270536

2026-01-12 18:54 UTC

as well as practically. X doubt. This is worse than nothing, because (as a wheelchair user) there’s like 10 inches of clearance behind the chair (given wheel clearance). That back rail means you can’t back up to get yourself in line with your compatriots,so you’ll be in front of and misaligned with the people on either side, such that they’re literally talking behind your back. If this design was in earnest, it’s godawful and just shows the designer had no idea what they were doing. If it’s an art project, then I can appreciate it. If it was meant to be practical, it’s a major fail.

Replies (2)

@b_tr3e@feddit.org 2026-01-12 19:02

It’s a single installation, AFAIK - and definitely an art project. Having some academic arts background, I dare to say the focus of the installation is the difference between “in the middle” and “aside”. So it’s highly symbolic. Practically two chairs with a reasonable gap inbetween would be far more practical but they, of course, don’t transmit any message.

Open ##1270538
@AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net 2026-01-13 01:11

I can appreciate the thought, because as a part time wheelchair user, it does often wear me down when I feel like I’m perpetually perched on the periphery of any conversation. However, like you say, this is just far too impractical for most people. I have a small, active wheelchair, and even that would probably put me in front of friends sitting on the bench beside me. However, I can totally believe that this was made in earnest. I’ve seen some ridiculous “accommodations” that are ostensibly for disabled people that just show that the able bodied designer just didn’t involve any disabled people in the design process at all. And that’s why “nothing about us, without us” is a long used slogan used by disability rights campaigners. If anyone wants to see an example of good accessibility design, I love how they designed the packaging for the Xbox Accessible Controller. They included lots of people with varied needs across multiple stages of the design process, and it really shows. And the end product is so elegantly functional. I like this quote from Solomon Romney, a “Microsoft Retail Stores retail learning specialist": “The whole thing sort of blossoms open in this really beautiful, fluid way. The package just sort of opens and hands you the controller. What’s wonderful about it is the effortlessness.”

Open ##1270571