The union between IKEA, the Aspasim Foundation, and the Eina and Elisava design centres has given rise to an innovative project that seeks to improve the day-to-day lives of children with disabilities living in the Xinxeta flat. This initiative highlights how collaboration between companies, social entities and academic centres can generate real and effective solutions for groups in vulnerable situations.
Eina's contribution has focused on the design of elements created through 3D printing, aimed at solving specific needs identified in the flat. A group of 15 students from the Bachelor of Design began the project with a direct immersion in the Xinxeta flat to understand the routines, challenges and dynamics of both the residents and the care staff. This field observation allowed us to detect clear opportunities for improvement.
Building on this prior work, the students developed innovative design proposals that could have a positive impact on users’ quality of life. With the technical support of IKEA, 3D prototypes were produced and will now be tested in the same apartment. The process, iterative in nature and involving direct participation from end users, will allow the solutions to be refined through prototype testing until a fully functional and adapted final version is achieved.
This project not only promotes inclusion and autonomy for people with disabilities, but also exemplifies how co-design and active participation can generate innovations with tangible and human impact.
It is a powerful example of how working together can translate into real improvements for the people who need it most. With initiatives like this, cross-sector collaboration is confirmed as a key element in moving towards a more equitable and accessible society for all.
The following students from the Bachelor's Degree in Design, as part of the Product Design seminar in the User and Interaction course led by Lena Macau, took part in the project: Carolina Abelleyro, Gisela Bellido, Elisabeth Boix, Carla Bosch, Marcel Domènech, Claudia Grau, Eva Hayek, Judit Martin, Maria Montes, Carla Oliver, Bruno Ortiz, Inés Padilla, Bruna Parramon, Iku Sala, Maria Sierra. The project would not have been possible without the involvement of Anna Seguí and Iu Bertrand from Aspasim, and Ismael Villar and Noemi Pla from IKEA.
