The concepts of inclusion and inclusive design are often misinterpreted as intended exclusively for special groups of people, primarily people with disabilities and the elderly, that is, people who need help for inclusion in life situations that are considered necessary. Examples of said life situations are access to public institutions, the use of public transport, or assistance in achieving independence in everyday life. However, as Sanja Bencetić, Associate Professor at the University of Zagreb, will show in her lecture – inclusive design has a different meaning and a far wider application.

Sanja Bencetić graduated in industrial design in 1994 at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb. After graduating, she worked as an independent designer, and since 2000 she has been teaching at the same Design Studio as an Associate Art Professor on the courses Industrial Design, Design Methodology, Ergonomics and Inclusive Design. Sanja also teaches the course Industrial Design at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding, University of Zagreb. She obtained her Master of Science degree in 2008 at the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb. Her main area of interest is inclusive design, i.e. the applicability of inclusiveness methodology in a wide variety of projects, from inclusive products, through inclusive design workshops and social entrepreneurship, to inclusive public spaces.