Inclusion and Sustainable Urban Mobility: Exploring the Design for Movability Framework

The inclusion concept determines the transition of urban mobility towards sustainability. Also, considering the needs of older people, the disabled, and people who experience socioeconomic disadvantages in urban sustainable mobility are design challenges. These topics can be addressed with the Design for Movability (DxM) framework which refers to the human ability to move and promotes walkability and the usage of emergent technologies. The DxM framework embraces aspects of (i) urban sustainable mobility through micro-mobility, (ii) urban health and well-being through walkability and physical activity, and (iii) the design-enabled innovation paradigm through product and service design disciplines. We propose to discuss inclusion issues within the DxM framework through design concepts created among research initiatives of an academic laboratory engaged in design research activities for sustainable urban mobility. The concepts are mainly related to product design solutions for improving eco-sustainable mobility, enabling walkability, and promoting health behaviours through active mobility. By matching the DxM framework and Universal Design Goals, five crucial topics were identified to understand how to improve the inclusion issues in the DxM framework, specifically for the disciplines of products and products-service systems. Finally, the implications of designing sustainable urban environments that meet people's needs for inclusive and sustainable urban mobility are discussed.