A Monash University project aimed at helping people with disabilities engage in STEAM education has received recognition in Australia’s peak international design awards.
The Accessible Makervan was announced as a Good Design Award Winner at the 2024 Australian Good Design Awards, held in Sydney on 20 September, for its outstanding design excellence.
Established in 1958, the Australian Good Design Award, commonly known as the Good Design Tick, is one of the most esteemed and recognised design endorsement symbols in the industry.
Developed by inclusive technology researchers from Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) in collaboration with Wallara, a disability support organisation, the Accessible Makervan is a mobile makerspace that delivers STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning to individuals with intellectual disabilities across Victoria.
The van is equipped with essential makerspace equipment, including a 3D printer, laser cutter, and portable electronic kits, enabling users to explore and develop their own STEAM activities.
PhD student Jacqueline Johnstone, from FIT, spearheaded the initiative, dedicating over 100 hours to interviewing Wallara’s leadership, staff and clients to understand their needs and contribute to the van’s design.
“The challenge for us was to design a mobile makerspace with and for the Wallara community, developing a solution that accommodates diverse cognitive, motor and communication abilities,” Ms Johnstone said.
The design and development of the Accessible Makervan was a collaborative effort. Features such as the layout, spacing, pull-out shelves and platform lift were co-designed with people with disabilities using an innovative method called ‘bodystorming’.
This approach involved participants physically enacting design concepts and scenarios to generate creative solutions and evaluate the van’s functionality.
“To the best of our knowledge this is the first time bodystorming has been employed to engage individuals with intellectual disabilities in the co-design process,” Ms Johnstone said.
“Since verbal communication can present as a barrier, the hands-on bodystorming method allowed participants to actively contribute to the design and take ownership of the Makervan.
“The mobile makerspace has broadened participants’ understanding of STEAM. They are eager to engage in activities and often ask questions like, ‘What do you have for me today?’ or ‘Can we try this?’” Ms Johnstone said.
Associate Professor Kirsten Ellis, from the Faculty of Information Technology, said Monash University’s inclusive technologies are designed to improve the lives of underserved communities.
“Our Accessible Makervan project is helping to shift communal attitudes and demonstrate the potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities to thrive in STEAM education,” Associate Professor Ellis said.
CEO of Wallara, Phil Hayes-Brown, said: “Our partnership with Monash University is continuing to grow. There is so much energy and innovation to make education inclusive and the Accessible Makervan is a great example of this progress.”
“Given the success of the Accessible Makervan in delivering STEAM education, we are considering deploying these accessible vans across our other programs.”
The Accessible Makervan is part of an ARC Linkage Project.
Monash University’s inclusive technologies research team is in the process of designing custom accessible tools to ensure more participants with a broad range of disabilities are able to fully engage with the STEAM activities run from the Accessible Makervan.
