Revision as of 15:39, 16 June 2021

My Motivation

My sister was born with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrom).
My parents raised her to be self-determined.
For as long as I can remember my mother worked to support development towards a more inclusive society.
I went to a primary school that was integrative. I had classes in a group that included children without and some with disabilities.
I believe that everyone is valuable and should have equal opportunities.
In my previous studies (Communication Design) I worked on the concept of inclusive factbooks. [See here] [and here]
I am convinced that equal access to information and knowledge for all people is a basic prerequisite for an equitable society.

First Year

Special Issue X: Input Output

For [Special Issue X] I built GLARE, a 16 voice polyphonic synthesizer instrument that is based on Arduino. GLARE module is controlled by gestures only and thereby works in a very intuitive way. This project is based on the approach of simplifying complex processes in such a way that they can be used by a wide range of people with different abilities without much prior knowledge. The sensors can be easily removed from the unit for storage or transport.

Final Glare Module

Glare in action

In this project, a group publication of 10 circuit boards was produced by the 10 students in vinyl record format. Together with 10 instructions for assembling the various modules, this publication is available from DePlayer in an original edition of 30. The project was also presented there. I was involved in the design of the visual identity of this exhibition.

Special Issue X publication contribution

[High resolution image of my publication contribution]

Input Output poster

Input Output modular posters

Special Issue XI: We have secrets to tell you

My full Special Issue XI Documentation is not accessible to the public at this moment.

In [Special Issue XI] I came into first contact with (Semantic) MediaWiki queries. Later in the project, I was mainly involved in coding the publicly accessible part of our web publication. This was the first time for me to code in Javascript. On the website, it is possible to filter content and generate a print document from selected content.

Special Issue XI publication

In this project, my focus was on breaking down the collectively used processes into tools and methods. For each collected item I wrote short texts that explain what we used them for. I also developed an icon for each collected item.

Tools - Icons created for Special Issue XI publication

Methods - Icons created for Special Issue XI publication

Special Issue XII: Radio Implicancies

File:Max Lehmann Special Issue XII notebook.pdf

In [Special Issue XII] I mainly created audio content for our collective weekly broadcast. I was also involved in coding one of the web broadcasting interfaces.

Special Issue XII publication contribution

Second Year

Proposal

Concept development

Concept/Research

Initial thoughts

Speculative experimental approach to inclusive interface design
Simple language vs. Complex language - In which areas is it not possible to use simple language and why? Language as a barrier, as a weapon, as protection...
What is normal? A publication about the developments of norms in societies. Predjudices, conformity... Technological norms and implications? (Queer Technologies) Reading Normal by Allen Frances. [Read more about this in my thesis.]
Critical examination of the meaning of "normal" and problems that come with it. Is normal just an individual reflection of a perceived average of our surroundings? Normal is consistency in perception?
Is there a definition of "normal", that is not exclusive towards minority groups? What will future norms be and how can they be changed?
Interactive (game) website using 2D animation to explain what "normal" is normal and why

First thoughts

Barrier-free calibration tool to make a website dynamically adjust to individual users

First ideas: Website that adjust to user preferences

Inclusive web, user abilities and conditions

Reduce barriers for web users - inclusive browser, (-plugin), website, wiki: Remove distraction, simplify, add illustration, layout...
Access to what kinds of information is crucial for equal participation? Who decides?

How inclusive is the web with special regards to websites on which all kinds of "important information" is available.

Attempt to analyse different websites according to inclusivity criteria

Which user skills and conditions can affect equal access to information and knowledge?

Map: User diversity in information design

Proposal

For my master project, I am creating a website that allows for exploration of selected aspects of human diversity, due to which users or groups of users might be disadvantaged when information is presented to them, or they seek to access it.

This is to give an overview of possible necessary adaptations in the process of creating an inclusive publication in terms of design and content. It is also to inform about the human emotions that can be caused by facing a disadvantage in accessing information, maybe because of an individual special feature that has not been thought of in the creation process.

Project proposal

Tabel: Cluster of human abilities relevant to the design and content of information publication

2D representation of a sphere with information arranged on it

Proposal: Globe website

Illustration

First test with Blender 3D + 2D frame by frame animation

Animation: Learning styles - Visual

Animation: Learning styles - Social

Animation: Learning styles - Aural

Prototyping

[Technical process index]

Blender: Sphere with illustrations of learning styles arranged on it

First 3JS Tests: 3D objects and mouse interaction

First 3JS Tests: Texture, controls and responsiveness

First 3JS Tests: Object loading

First 3JS Tests: Sphecirally arranged CSS3DObjects