InDU

The project addresses the social exclusion and perception challenges faced by people with disabilities. Existing products for disabled individuals often highlight disability as the central identity, rather than recognizing the abilities and talents of these individuals. This often leads to negative cultural perceptions and limits the expression of their true identity. Many existing solutions focus on providing help rather than promoting cooperation and self-expression.

Identity takes precedence over disability in the InDU project's inclusive product designs. TRIANGLE bag, VEST bag, 2in1 bag, and APRON combine functional accessibility with appealing aesthetics, creating universal appeal beyond specialized markets. Cooperative engagement replaces traditional aid models throughout this initiative, empowering individuals with disabilities to express their unique identities while delivering solutions that benefit everyone regardless of ability status.

University of Zagreb's Sanja Bencetić collaborates with Irena Rački from URIHO, an institution specializing in professional rehabilitation for people with disabilities. Design students and young professionals join with URIHO employees in conducting inclusive research that merges participatory methodologies with practical production techniques. Production and distribution responsibilities rest with URIHO, ensuring all products remain genuinely accessible across diverse user populations.

Educational frameworks and product development processes gain inclusive design principles through this pioneering approach. Empowerment and recognition of disabled individuals drive the entire methodology. Cultural perception shifts become possible when design education combines with real-world collaborative experiences. Design emerges as a powerful tool for developing sustainable, contemporary solutions that celebrate inclusion. Future designers and community members alike learn to recognize the significant potential and contributions of individuals with disabilities.

Sectors beyond product design can adopt this participatory, inclusive methodology to reframe differences as valuable strengths rather than limitations. Societal attitudes evolve when initiatives advocate for understanding disability as just one aspect of identity rather than its defining characteristic. Thoughtful design approaches demonstrate how perception changes can drive broader cultural transformation, encouraging everyone to recognize the inherent potential in all individuals regardless of ability status.