Junior Engineers Innovate Accessibility Design

Elementary students from 3rd to 5th grade in Junior Engineers kicked off an exciting After School Activity project called Access for All: Design Challenge. Their project was made special by their guest teacher, Charlotte, who is blind—and an expert in universal design. She works with a company that creates accessible products for a wide range of users.

Students learned firsthand from Charlotte about what universal design means and how it shapes the world. They also learnt about the 7 principles of universal design such as minimizing hazards, being low physical effort to use, being simple and intuitive, being useful for people with diverse abilities, and more. The students then began to apply what they learned by letting their imaginations soar! Each student began the design process by crafting stories that highlighted everyday situations where people faced accessibility challenges. These stories became the starting point for their own product ideas, rooted in real-life situations.

The experience gave students a new perspective—not only about design, but also about communication and inclusion. They discovered how thoughtful design enables Charlotte to live independently and work professionally in Seoul!