What is #Inclusion?

“Design for social innovation means design for everyone, especially for those who are usually excluded.”-- Ezio Manzini

New technologies are usually designed with specific users groups in mind, focusing on what the society defines as "the norm". This approach can unintentionally leave many voices unheard. At Team Inclusion, we begin from a different place. Rather than focusing solely on systems or technologies, we center our work on people—their lived experiences, values, and ways of being in the world. We believe that inclusive design emerges from listening, mutual understanding, and collaboration.

Our research is grounded in close, long-term engagement with people from diverse backgrounds, including individuals with mental and physical disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people from different cultural contexts. Together, we explore themes such as health and well-being, cultural understanding, and artistic expression, aiming to create technologies that feel meaningful, respectful, and empowering.

Who are the members?

Led by Project Assistant Professor Ximing Shen (Elizabeth) and Dr. Antonin Cheymol, our team brings together doctoral and master’s students from the Keio University Graduate School of Media Design. We welcome students and collaborators from diverse background to add their unique point of view to our research (our existing members come from backgrounds in industrial design, sports science, machine learning, and business etc.).

We also collaborate closely with researchers from the University of Oxford, Tokyo University of the Arts, and Yokohama City University. We invite you to meet our members below and join us in imagining a more inclusive future through design.