The Inclusive Changing Room

This ongoing project explores how fashion and retail environments can be reimagined through inclusive design. Grounded in research with people living with arthritis and other disabilities, it challenges the deep-rooted inaccessibility of high street shopping spaces, particularly for women navigating daily pain, fatigue, and limited mobility.

While adaptive clothing is slowly gaining visibility, my research revealed that physical retail environments remain a significant barrier to independence and dignity for many.

Informed by research including user interviews, forum analysis, social media co-design, and observational studies, I developed a series of design interventions, including a fold-out bench-chair with integrated grab rails and a magnetic coat hanger system that enables users to dress with minimal strain. These concepts translate my research into tangible solutions that position comfort, autonomy, and accessibility as essential features of the retail experience, rather than optional additions.