CONFERENCES
E&PDE 2026 - 28th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The Conference will bring together representatives from education and industry interested in sharing new perspectives on design education.
Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER? WHAT THE WORLD'S MAJOR RELIGIONS TEACH US ABOUT INCLUSIVE DESIGN
Christensen, Seth Youd
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Buck, Lyndon; Brisco. Ross; Bohemia, Erik
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
Brigham Young University, United States of America
Page(s):
523 - 528
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-24-8
ISSN:
3005-4753
Abstract:
Inclusive design seeks to embrace the diversity of users (e.g., abilities, backgrounds, cultures, and faiths) and ensure products, services, and environments are accessible, equitable, and empowering for all. This paper explores how the world's major religious traditions (including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others) provide ethical and philosophical perspectives that can enrich the practice of inclusive design. By framing inclusive design as a moral imperative rooted not only in regulatory or utilitarian terms but also in relational, communal, and justice-oriented values, we offer a lens for rethinking design education and practice. We outline key religiously-inspired design principles, map them to inclusive design workflows, and propose pedagogical implications for product design education. In doing so, we not only ask: "Am I my brother's keeper?" but also extend the question into design: "Am I my customer's keeper?"
Keywords:
