Inclusive Design: a Conversation with Bérénice Magistretti

Bérénice Magistretti is a writer and disabilities advocate, currently living in Milan. She was born and raised in Switzerland, but always felt a deep connection with Italy. Her great uncle, namely Italian architect Vico Magistretti, influenced the environment she grew up in together with her taste for simple yet beautiful furniture. Today, Bérénice strives to destigmatize disabilities by starting new conversations through fashion, art and design, in the hope to show that beauty and function can go hand in hand. She recently started a collaboration with artisans in Tuscany to create a line of canes for people with low vision. Being herself visually impaired, she’s determined to shift the narrative around design when it comes to accessibility and inclusion.

Bérénice Magistretti curated a special collection of inclusive items selected from Artemest. Discover more about her story and her idea of inclusive design, by exploring this collection that blends beauty and function. Each piece writes its own story in the narration of Inclusive Design, bringing a touch of style into the interiors of people visually impaired or blind. Find out more about the highly contrasted color schemes to prefer for the plates and cutting boards, the ideal materials and shapes to opt for the glasses and the best solutions to brighten up your spaces appropriately.

Can you tell us about your idea of "Inclusive Design"?

Inclusive design encapsulates a wide range of features and functions and can mean different things for different people. In my case, inclusive design means good lighting as I need a lot of light to see. But it also relates to other, less obvious things. For example, a wine glass that is made of copper and brass may just look like a stylish wine glass to someone who doesn’t have a vision impairment. For me, however, it represents an inclusive design as I can see it much better than if it were a transparent wine glass. And if I unintentionally knock it over, it won’t break.
People often think of inclusive design too literally – i.e. inclusive design means having a wheelchair ramp in a building. But disabilities exist on a wide spectrum and so accessibility needs vary greatly depending on the type of disability, or disabilities, that you have. It can relate to sound, texture, materials, lighting and more.

You have curated a selection of Artemest pieces. Can you tell us what guided your selection?

Many things guided my selection! Type of lighting, contrast, solid materials and more.
As mentioned, lighting is a very important aspect of design for me, but it’s a very specific type of lighting. I need a lot of light to brighten a room, but it has to be indirect light as my eyes are very sensitive. So, I chose lamps like the Eden Brass Wall Lamp by altreforme as it provides good lighting all the while covering the lightbulbs.
Tables with incorporated trays, like Cassigoli’s Black Notte Leather Tray Servier Plateau, are also very useful as it facilitates the transport of glasses.
In terms of kitchen items, contrast is key, which is why I love this KN Book Set of 3 Cutting Boards by Roberto Vaia. Not only does it look great as déco but the variation of woods used provides great contrast depending on the type of food I am cooking. So, if I’m chopping mozzarella, I’ll use one of the darker boards. But if I’m chopping tomatoes, I’ll use the lighter board.
When it comes to glasses and vases, I try to avoid glass or crystal and favor brass, copper or gold instead. I love this Velvet Rosa Glass and this Naco Vase, both by Zanetto, as they are hyper visible and unbreakable! When considering disabilities that cause mobility and dexterity issues, this Phatos Gold Small Tumbler Glass by Mario Cioni & C is great as the V-shaped silhouette with a faceted design helps create a more stable grip. The gold painted onto the rim also helps make it more visible.
Sound and smell are very important when it comes to accessibility, especially for those who are completely blind. That’s why I chose this Red Radio.cubo by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper, as well as this Labirinto Scarlatto Candle by Gio Ponti. The lid on the candle is a key addition as when you have an impaired sense, your other senses are heightened. So, in my case, because I don’t see well, my sense of smell is heightened, meaning that some scents and perfumes are sometimes too strong for me. So, the lid helps soften the smell when you aren’t using the candle.
Being a cane user myself, I chose two walking sticks for those who have mobility issues. I particularly like this Castello 3968 Walking Stick by Giulio Iacchetti crafted from poplar wood and briccola oak. The design was inspired by a desire to remove the stigma from such an aid, shifting how it is viewed – as merely a useful tool – and designing it instead to be worn with pride and elegance.
This is exactly what I’m trying to do through my work as a disability’s activist: show that the beautiful can be accessible and that you can combine accessibility with aesthetics. Unfortunately, there are no beautiful and stylish canes for the visually impaired… Yet! Something I’m working on.
Of all the items that I’ve selected on the Artemest website, I think this is by far my favourite one: The Mani Vuote Tapestry by Caterina Frongia. As mentioned on the website: “This precious artisan tapestry is a thoughtful design conceived during the first months of the pandemic. The idea of fighting against a virus - an insidious yet invisible enemy - hints at karate ("empty hand"), a martial art where the opponent must be fought just using bare hands. The adjectives on the sides, flanking braille codes intended to describe the virus, are split by an authentic black karate belt." I absolutely love the fact that the artist used braille writing on this piece. Writing that is “invisible” to the naked eye and can only be read when touched.

What advice would you give to people who share your disability and, like you, don't want to sacrifice style in their homes?

I would tell them to think outside of the box and not settle for the traditional definition of accessibility! People with disabilities often have to be very creative as we live in a world that was not designed with us in mind. Thankfully, some things are intrinsically and intuitively inclusive. The key is to find them and find what works for you.

In my case, I think my sense of aesthetic is inherently linked to my vision impairment. I see things in a very particular way and so what I find beautiful will often be accessible to me. I think the objects and pieces of furniture you choose for your home are an opportunity to tell your story – who you are, what you value and what you give meaning to.
For a more inclusive future, what considerations do you think are essential when designing accessible furniture for everyone?

We need to start thinking about inclusive design more broadly and understand that it benefits everyone, not just those with a disability. Whether you’re an elderly person, a parent with a stroller or someone who is temporarily using crutches, we all benefit from having more accessible cities and buildings.
More than accessible furniture, I think we need to think about accessible spaces. So making sure that the right kinds of materials and textiles are used to ensure that the acoustics are good. Creating a restaurant with an industrial vibe that has a minimalistic touch may look great, but the sound will be terrible as it will echo, which is very challenging for those with a hearing impairment. Good lighting is also key for the hearing impaired as they need to be able to read lips. And it helps those like me with low vision to see other people’s faces! Finally, I think that it is crucial to work with artisans, designers and architects who have different types of disabilities. If they live with it, they will know how to design for it.