Navigating Korea through a Designer’s Lens
The ecosystem of public transportation has always been an area of fascination for me — not only does it give us insights on how different countries design their systems, it can also provide inspiration to solving some of our design problems back home. The solutions implemented to tackle some of the common transportation problems in Korea were very interesting and empathetic, and it invariably makes me wonder: “Why didn’t we think of this before?”
Equipped with three different transport navigation apps, Google Translate and a month’s worth of research, I was ready to master the art of wayfinding like a local on my very first trip to Korea. Figuring out how the public transport system works can be a daunting task, especially in a foreign country. From overcoming language barriers to deciphering design choices, every interaction makes an impact on the overall experience.
I noticed that not all subway stations have elevator access. The everyday pain and struggles that the elderly and people with physical disabilities go through when they commute is part of what we have to keep in mind when we design public spaces. It makes me appreciate inclusive design decisions that learn from human diversity and create solutions that “solve for one but extend to many”.
This all boils down to empathy — Inclusive Design is about understanding that one person who is most excluded from participating in an experience and including them in the design process in ways that benefit a much broader population of people. This also means ensuring that no one is excluded from using the tools, products and services we create.
Throughout the two weeks spent in Korea, here are some of the delightful moments when design was inclusive and empathetic towards users:
