Nearly 20 years ago two architects, one in the US and one in the UK, who’d both acquired functional limitations due to polio, developed an idea about people at the center of the design process.  Ron Mace and Selwyn Goldsmith were clear.  Universal/inclusive design was not baseline accessibility about people with disabilities but rather a transformational and dynamic design strategy for our time that built on a floor of access.  They saw human diversity of ability, age, and culture as definitive of life today and called for concerted leadership to invest in design that makes this new reality work.  The demographic facts have only gotten starker.  The concepts are more familiar but sustainable visionary practice, at best, scattered.  Valerie Fletcher will offer a strategy to spur holistic action for inclusive design that’s practical but energizing, that demands engagement by clients, designers, and users. And she will illustrate success with global examples of methods and results. Doors open at 5.00pm.

Designing with People in Mind

Welcome to Auckland Conversations, where you are invited to join those creating the world’s most liveable cities.

From exploring the implications of climate change to discussing the virtues of public art, our series of free Auckland Conversations events have brought influential speakers and world-class ideas to the people of Auckland from leaders and experts in design, planning, heritage, environment and socio-economics. 

Now you can join the conversation from wherever you are by streaming Auckland Conversations online. Events are live-streamed on the site and you can keep track of how the community is responding in real-time by checking out the live social media feed.

You can also register for upcoming events, watch past events in full, download podcasts of past sessions, check out presentation decks(link is external) and share content across all of your social networks. 

Auckland Conversations events aim to inspire, educate and engage Aucklanders – and contribute to our vision of making Auckland the World’s Most Liveable City.