Harnessing Design Thinking For Inclusive Innovation
Ashima Dhawan, Assistant Professor for Creative Industries Management at School of Textiles and Design at Heriot-Watt University, Dubai, explores how design thinking is driving inclusive, human-centric innovation across the Middle East.
In a world of constant change, a designer’s thinking offers more than a method — it’s a mindset and methodology. Beyond traditional frameworks, it blends creativity, criticality, compassion, and cultural insight. Across the Middle East, designers, architects, and creative leaders are using it to shape inclusive, human-centred solutions that truly reflect the communities they serve
The Case for Inclusive Innovation
Inclusivity is no longer optional— it’s an imperative. As our societies become more diverse and intricately interconnected, design must mirror the rich tapestry of human experience. Inclusive innovation transcends aesthetics, seeking instead to accommodate the nuanced needs of all users — including older adults, people of determination, neurodivergent individuals, and economically marginalized populations. Designer’s Thinking, with its grounding in empathy and iterative co-creation, offers a blueprint to navigate this terrain.
Take Dubai Expo 2020: arguably one of the region’s most poignant showcases of inclusive design. The Mobility Pavilion, masterfully conceived by Foster + Partners, featured tactile pathways, Braille-integrated displays, and universally intuitive wayfinding. This was not design-by-obligation but design-by-intent — a narrative imbued with human excellence.
Step Into Empathy: The Crux of Innovation
A Designer’s Thinking begins with empathy. This requires an unhurried immersion into users’ lived experiences — observing, listening, and understanding unspoken needs. In the UAE, local initiatives like the Dubai Future Foundation’s “One Human Reality” push designers to create empathetic systems that anticipate future societal shifts, including aging populations and increased digital immersion.
A stellar, grounded example is the Al Etihad Museum in Dubai. This architectural ode to the UAE’s formation is an exercise in inclusive storytelling, integrating tactile maps, multilingual audio guides, and intuitive spatial flow. The museum is not only informative but effective. It demonstrates how design can be profoundly democratic—accessible not just physically but emotionally and cognitively.
Equally compelling is the rise in neurodivergent-informed design. Think serene lighting, intuitive spatial configurations, and sensory-friendly environments. Dubai’s retail and co-working spaces are beginning to embrace this idea. Imagine shopping centres with quiet hours, or creative hubs kitted out with sensory pods. It’s not merely considerate design — it’s spatial empathy with swagger.
Iteration: Co-Creation as Praxis
The process of building, testing, and refining ensures that designs are not only functional but also desirable and accessible. The Sharjah Architecture Triennial, themed “Rights of Future Generations,” offered a glimpse into how iterative design can intersect with sustainability and equity. Several installations were co-created with local communities, empowering users as co-designers rather than passive recipients.
Another notable mention is the Beeah Headquarters by Zaha Hadid Architects in Sharjah. The building’s sustainable design was shaped by environmental and social considerations, integrating accessibility, net-zero strategies, and user comfort holistically.
Let’s not forget the tech side of things. As AI becomes integrated into everyday experiences—from chatbots to facial recognition—there’s a new challenge: How inclusive is our AI? Arabic dialects are still underrepresented in voice-based systems. Inclusive innovation now means designing tech that understands everyone, regardless of accent, ability, or language.
Inclusive Futures in the Middle East
As GCC countries invest in smart cities and cultural megaprojects, the opportunity to embed inclusive innovation through Design Thinking is greater than ever. Initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s NEOM and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Smart City Project signal a future where technology and empathy converge. These aren’t utopias in the making — they’re testbeds for accessible transport, climate-conscious housing, and multilingual UX design.
How about a solar-powered smart bench that charges your device and provides shade for wheelchair users in searing summers? That’s not a gimmick — that’s micro-empathy at scale.
Even the luxury and hospitality sectors are catching on. High-end hotels in Dubai are quietly redesigning experiences with accessibility in mind—from touchscreen elevators with audio feedback to concierge services trained in sign language. Accessibility isn’t charity—it’s elegance, redefined.
To push the agenda forward, education systems must also evolve. Design schools across the region are beginning to integrate human-centered design modules that expose students to real-world problems and diverse user groups. This is a promising start, but let’s take it further: co-creation studios in underserved communities, design jams with seniors, and AI that learns with local voices.
The Way Forward
Harnessing Design Thinking for inclusive innovation is not a one-off project but a cultural shift. It requires courage to challenge assumptions, humility to listen deeply, and commitment to prototype relentlessly. But the payoff is profound: cities that are more livable, more usable products, and communities that feel seen and valued.
The Middle East has all the ingredients to become a global hub for inclusive design. With its dynamic talent pool, visionary leadership, and growing awareness of social equity, the region is well-positioned to lead by example.
The future of design isn’t just smart or sustainable — it’s inclusive, multilingual, sensory-friendly, and emotionally intelligent — all that stems from a Designer’s Mind.
Let’s design it together — boldly, curiously, inclusivel
