Three years unleashing diversity, and the path forward

As you wander around Tenjin, the cultural hub of Fukuoka, you can hear a multitude of languages and see people of all ages, the diversity of society unfolds right before your eyes. Diversity enriches our community, but also presents us with challenges. The raised entrance step into a ramen shop, bicycles parked on tactile paving, and restrooms designed only for binary genders act like everyday barriers, making daily life a bit tougher for seniors, people with disabilities, and those with diverse gender identities. The demand for solutions is more urgent than ever.

Over the past three years, the Kyushu University Design Initiative for Diversity & Inclusion (DIDI) has been looking at everything with an eye towards inclusivity, spotting the overlooked hurdles in design that stand in the way for various groups. By harnessing wisdom from a wide range of disciplines and employing design, DIDI is committed to building a more vibrant and healthier society.

Together We Think Better

Launched in 2021 by researchers from Kyushu University’s Faculty of Design, DIDI is an interdisciplinary hub designed to tackle societal challenges by transcending traditional academic boundaries. DIDI's strategy unfolds through three core organizational units: the "Social Art Lab," tasked with uncovering hidden societal challenges through the arts; the "Civic Design Lab," dedicated to actionable solutions through design; and the "Design Think Tank," that bridges diverse research domains and the broader community. These units are foundational to achieving DIDI's ambitious objectives: designing systems that cater to diverse needs and unlocking individual potential. Faculty across different disciplines directly address complex issues like gender and disability, working together to investigate how design can promote inclusivity and equality.

Beyond its core, DIDI collaborates widely with professionals from economics, welfare, business, and NGOs to draw more participants into the fold of social inclusion design. This collective effort deepens mutual understanding and empathy, cultivating the capacity to forge a society that cherishes varied perspectives.

Students from the Department and Graduate School of Design are also actively participating in social inclusion design, contributing their fresh curiosity and creativity that invigorates DIDI. Professor Yoshito Ogata, the director of DIDI and a researcher at Kyushu University's Faculty of Design, reflected, "Seeing DIDI inspire our students to take initiative brings us great delight."

Nurturing a Space for Continuous Reflection

On February 28, 2024, DIDI held a symposium titled "Unlocking Diversity—Designing for Social Inclusion: A Third-Year Inquiry" at Design Commons Active Learning Space, Ohashi Campus, to reflect on the progress made and challenges faced in fostering a more inclusive society through innovative design and thought.

The symposium brought together experts to talk about creating a society that is more open and appreciative of everyone's unique backgrounds. Keynote speeches were delivered by Emiko Namihira, former professor at the Kyushu Institute of Design (now Kyushu University’s Faculty of Design) and Emeritus Professor at Ochanomizu University, and Kaori Hayashi, Vice President of the University of Tokyo and Professor at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies. They delivered speeches that explored the importance of diversity and how it shapes our world, from a cultural and media perspective respectively.

Following their keynote speeches, three professors from Kyushu University's Faculty of Design: Masakazu Tani (emeritus professor), Mia Nakamura and Mao Kudo, joined the two speakers for a lively panel discussion. They dove into pressing topics like individuality, identity, and power relations, sparking a vibrant exchange of ideas.

Reflecting on its three-year journey, DIDI has consistently pushed the boundaries of conventional wisdom and shaped our collective understanding by facilitating meaningful dialogues, connecting diverse views, and encouraging voices from all walks of life.

Every year, DIDI explores a unique theme. The first year's theme, "What to see, from where to see it," shed light on social minority groups and needs in our everyday lives. In the second year, the focus shifted to "How to draw lines, how to redraw them," examining how certain boundaries, especially in administration, become obstacles and how we might overcome or revise them. The most recent theme, "How to ask questions, how to answer them," centered on the art of questioning as a tool for uncovering deep and meaningful insights.

DIDI remains committed to confronting and overcoming challenges related to gender, disability, and poverty, ensuring that every step taken is one towards meaningful progress. Through a cycle of questioning, solving, and uncovering new challenges, DIDI continues to push for a better, more inclusive world. This unwavering dedication signifies not just a commitment to today's issues but a pledge for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow. Professor Ogata emphasizes the importance of this continuous effort, stating, "Continuously reflecting over issues like gender equality, beyond the confines of events or projects, is key to making genuine strides towards inclusivity."

• Design Initiative for Diversity & Inclusion
• Kyushu University School of Design