An Undetectable Work-Ethic: Design Activism’s Detour into Subcultures of Queer Disability and Innovation.

Abstract

LGBTQ communities globally continue to gain momentum in social acceptance yet continue to be challenged in their pursuits of equality. This research inquiry seeks to acknowledge and illuminate Design-Activism's relevancy among LGBTQ communities with a focus on Activism, Entrepreneurship and (Invisibility) Disability Culture. This study uses a mixed methods approach to understand Design-Activism's capacity towards accessing new and alternative modes of social inclusion. Drawing from theoretical and design-driven generated forms of knowledge, this study aligns pre-assumed disconnected concepts and highlights the unnoticed interconnectedness. Discovered are the boundaries and forces needed to expand Design's potential role towards championing Design beyond traditional commercial applications, with a concentrated effort towards service gaps and accessibility. These communities, although historically antagonized, demonstrate genuine insights and contributions towards the practice of Design Activism, thus revealing much more about people and the importance of Design.