ECHO: Empowering Contextual and Cultural Human Outcomes
A design framework for assistive technologies that centers socio-technical context, cultural heritage, and dignity, especially in communities historically overlooked by dominant design methods.
ROLE
Design Researcher, Framework Strategist, Writer
CONTRIBUTIONS
Led the development of the ECHO Framework through literature synthesis, expert interviews, and multiple rounds of iteration and refinement via remote design challenges.
PROJECT TYPE & DURATION
Masters Thesis, Design Research & Framework Development - 5-month project
AWARD
Honorable Mention, Berkeley MDEs Student Awards 2024 - Social Justice & Practice Category
What does inclusivity mean when one world sets the standard for all?
What does inclusivity mean when one world sets the standard for all?
What does inclusivity mean when one world sets the standard for all?
Inclusive design is often framed as universal, but most frameworks used today were developed in the West, for Western contexts. When applied elsewhere, they overlook crucial differences in infrastructure, culture, and history. As a result, assistive technologies often fail, not due to poor function, but because they weren't designed for this world.
Inclusive design is often framed as universal, but most frameworks used today were developed in the West, for Western contexts. When applied elsewhere, they overlook crucial differences in infrastructure, culture, and history. As a result, assistive technologies often fail, not due to poor function, but because they weren't designed for this world.
Inclusive design is often framed as universal, but most frameworks used today were developed in the West, for Western contexts. When applied elsewhere, they overlook crucial differences in infrastructure, culture, and history. As a result, assistive technologies often fail, not due to poor function, but because they weren't designed for this world.
This is a typical sidewalk in Accra, Ghana. Designing for functionality means nothing if you ignore the environment that surrounds it.
This is a typical sidewalk in Accra, Ghana. Designing for functionality means nothing if you ignore the environment that surrounds it.
This is a typical sidewalk in Accra, Ghana. Designing for functionality means nothing if you ignore the environment that surrounds it.
Culture is infrastructure too.
Culture is infrastructure too.
Culture is infrastructure too.
Barriers aren't just physical. They're also historical, cultural, and aesthetic. Western assistive devices often reflect Western ideals of beauty and dignity, which can clash with local perceptions in places like Ghana. The result? Devices that erase rather than reflect the people who use them.
Barriers aren't just physical. They're also historical, cultural, and aesthetic. Western assistive devices often reflect Western ideals of beauty and dignity, which can clash with local perceptions in places like Ghana. The result? Devices that erase rather than reflect the people who use them.
Barriers aren't just physical. They're also historical, cultural, and aesthetic. Western assistive devices often reflect Western ideals of beauty and dignity, which can clash with local perceptions in places like Ghana. The result? Devices that erase rather than reflect the people who use them.
What is considered beautiful and dignifying differs across cultures.
What is considered beautiful and dignifying differs across cultures.
What is considered beautiful and dignifying differs across cultures.
Left: Standard walking canes in the US
Right: Ghanaian handcrafted walking sticks
Left: Standard walking canes in the US
Right: Ghanaian handcrafted walking sticks
Left: Standard walking canes in the US
Right: Ghanaian handcrafted walking sticks
Where most frameworks fall short.
Where most frameworks fall short.
Where most frameworks fall short.
In my research, I found that while standardized design methods prioritize user needs and usability, many default to they often overlook socio-technical context and cultural nuance, defaulting to Western assumptions. On the other hand, justice and community-driven approaches elevate marginalized voices but often lack the structured methodology needed for broader adoption.
In my research, I found that while standardized design methods prioritize user needs and usability, many default to they often overlook socio-technical context and cultural nuance, defaulting to Western assumptions. On the other hand, justice and community-driven approaches elevate marginalized voices but often lack the structured methodology needed for broader adoption.
In my research, I found that while standardized design methods prioritize user needs and usability, many default to they often overlook socio-technical context and cultural nuance, defaulting to Western assumptions. On the other hand, justice and community-driven approaches elevate marginalized voices but often lack the structured methodology needed for broader adoption.
In conversations with assistive technology experts from organizations like Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab and TOM about their design process, this gap came up repeatedly. Existing methods don't fully account for the complex realities of the Majority world.
In conversations with assistive technology experts from organizations like Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab and TOM about their design process, this gap came up repeatedly. Existing methods don't fully account for the complex realities of the Majority world.
In conversations with assistive technology experts from organizations like Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab and TOM about their design process, this gap came up repeatedly. Existing methods don't fully account for the complex realities of the Majority world.
ECHO offers a third path: a practical, inclusive methodology that embraces this complexity without defaulting to Western norms.
ECHO offers a third path: a practical, inclusive methodology that embraces this complexity without defaulting to Western norms.
ECHO offers a third path: a practical, inclusive methodology that embraces this complexity without defaulting to Western norms.
Balancing usability with socio-technical realities, cultural relevance, and empowerment of marginalized voices.
Balancing usability with socio-technical realities, cultural relevance, and empowerment of marginalized voices.
Balancing usability with socio-technical realities, cultural relevance, and empowerment of marginalized voices.
Empowering Contextual and Cultural Human Outcomes.
Empowering Contextual and Cultural Human Outcomes.
Empowering Contextual and Cultural Human Outcomes.
ECHO is a six-phase, iterative framework for designing assistive technologies that are inclusive, resonant, and grounded in the realities of the Majority World. Developed through research and testing, it guides designers to question assumptions, account for socio-technical, cultural, and historical context, co-create with communities, and design in ways that honor place, people, and identity.
ECHO is a six-phase, iterative framework for designing assistive technologies that are inclusive, resonant, and grounded in the realities of the Majority World. Developed through research and testing, it guides designers to question assumptions, account for socio-technical, cultural, and historical context, co-create with communities, and design in ways that honor place, people, and identity.
ECHO is a six-phase, iterative framework for designing assistive technologies that are inclusive, resonant, and grounded in the realities of the Majority World. Developed through research and testing, it guides designers to question assumptions, account for socio-technical, cultural, and historical context, co-create with communities, and design in ways that honor place, people, and identity.
Swipe through the phases of ECHO.
Swipe through the phases of ECHO.
Swipe through the phases of ECHO.
Need-Knowers: Individuals with lived experience of the socio-technical environments, actively involved in co-creation.
Knowledge-Bearers: Indigenous individuals or those with deep cultural/historical knowledge, contributing contextual insights.
Need-Knowers: Individuals with lived experience of the socio-technical environments, actively involved in co-creation.
Knowledge-Bearers: Indigenous individuals or those with deep cultural/historical knowledge, contributing contextual insights.
Need-Knowers: Individuals with lived experience of the socio-technical environments, actively involved in co-creation.
Knowledge-Bearers: Indigenous individuals or those with deep cultural/historical knowledge, contributing contextual insights.
Stress-testing the Framework.
Stress-testing the Framework.
Stress-testing the Framework.
To evaluate ECHO in real-world contexts, I led two remote design challenges with designers in Ghana. Each designer used the framework to ideate solutions for blind communities, surfacing strengths, gaps, and areas for refinement.
To evaluate ECHO in real-world contexts, I led two remote design challenges with designers in Ghana. Each designer used the framework to ideate solutions for blind communities, surfacing strengths, gaps, and areas for refinement.
To evaluate ECHO in real-world contexts, I led two remote design challenges with designers in Ghana. Each designer used the framework to ideate solutions for blind communities, surfacing strengths, gaps, and areas for refinement.
The exercises validated key phases like Situate and Investigate for grounding in lived experience, while Adapt and Democratize encouraged deeper thinking around localization and sustainability. Their feedback shaped the final framework.
The exercises validated key phases like Situate and Investigate for grounding in lived experience, while Adapt and Democratize encouraged deeper thinking around localization and sustainability. Their feedback shaped the final framework.
The exercises validated key phases like Situate and Investigate for grounding in lived experience, while Adapt and Democratize encouraged deeper thinking around localization and sustainability. Their feedback shaped the final framework.
A design response from creative Hanson Akatti.
A design response from creative Hanson Akatti.
A design response from creative Hanson Akatti.
'I really appreciated the prompt to investigate colonial legacies. As a Black designer who studied design through a Western lens, I find that it is important to break Western hegemony and this is one of the ways to do it.'
'I really appreciated the prompt to investigate colonial legacies. As a Black designer who studied design through a Western lens, I find that it is important to break Western hegemony and this is one of the ways to do it.'
'I really appreciated the prompt to investigate colonial legacies. As a Black designer who studied design through a Western lens, I find that it is important to break Western hegemony and this is one of the ways to do it.'
— Hanson Akatti, Ghanaian artist and designer
— Hanson Akatti, Ghanaian artist and designer
— Hanson Akatti, Ghanaian artist and designer
Reimagining what Inclusive Design can be.
Reimagining what Inclusive Design can be.
Reimagining what Inclusive Design can be.
Designing assistive tech for the Majority World means working with infrastructural, cultural, and social contexts often overlooked. Though over 80% of people with disabilities globally live in the Majority World, most assistive technologies are designed without them in mind.
Designing assistive tech for the Majority World means working with infrastructural, cultural, and social contexts often overlooked. Though over 80% of people with disabilities globally live in the Majority World, most assistive technologies are designed without them in mind.
Designing assistive tech for the Majority World means working with infrastructural, cultural, and social contexts often overlooked. Though over 80% of people with disabilities globally live in the Majority World, most assistive technologies are designed without them in mind.
ECHO was created to change that by asking: What would it look like to design from places that are usually not designed for? It reminds us that methods are not neutral. They reflect the worlds they come from, and building new worlds requires new methods.
ECHO was created to change that by asking: What would it look like to design from places that are usually not designed for? It reminds us that methods are not neutral. They reflect the worlds they come from, and building new worlds requires new methods.
ECHO was created to change that by asking: What would it look like to design from places that are usually not designed for? It reminds us that methods are not neutral. They reflect the worlds they come from, and building new worlds requires new methods.
ECHO can be tested, refined, and extended across design disciplines. One day, it could even ground a certification for designers committed to building with context, culture, and equity at the core.
ECHO can be tested, refined, and extended across design disciplines. One day, it could even ground a certification for designers committed to building with context, culture, and equity at the core.
ECHO can be tested, refined, and extended across design disciplines. One day, it could even ground a certification for designers committed to building with context, culture, and equity at the core.
FOCUS AREAS
Inclusive design, systems thinking, framework development, design research, assistive Technology
TEAM
Shameemah Fuseini-Codjoe
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Immense gratitude to Bryce Johnson (Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab), Emily Sheldon (African Health Innovation Center), Maayan Keren (Tikkun Olam Makers), Isaac Gyamfi Tiiga (Garu Community Based Rehabilitation Center)