This paper discusses the cultivation of empathy and compassion in future designers through the practice of inclusive design, with an emphasis on creating scientific illustrations for the blind and visually impaired. The
project, carried out in collaboration between the Kaverljag Association and UL ALUO, involves interdisciplinary collaboration between designers, biologists, and typhlopedagogues. It showcases tactile illustrations from marine biology created using both traditional and modern techniques, including 3D printing. The educational model is built around a summer school of socially responsible design in which students—through lectures, workshops, and collaboration with users—develop concrete products while strengthening empathy and sensibility to the needs of vulnerable groups. The project highlights the lack of high-quality didactic materials for the blind, particularly in the field of scientific illustration, and emphasises the need to involve blind people from the earliest stages of design (co-design). The paper also builds on modern theoretical literature on empathy and socially responsible design and highlights the importance of methodological and pedagogical approaches that foster a broader understanding of users’ needs. The author emphasises the potential of inclusive design to facilitate broader social transformation. The paper concludes with a reflection on the importance of empathy and compassion as key competences of contemporary designers that enable a more just, inclusive, and sustainable society.
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