Although design anthropology, disability studies, and somaesthetics share overlapping concerns, they have rarely been explicitly linked. Each brings distinct strengths—practicality, inclusivity, and theoretical depth—that merit integration. This paper explores how design historically caters to a standardised body, side-lining marginalised bodies as 'unfit'. By juxtaposing these three frameworks, we argue for a reimagined design ethos that advances social justice through deeper embodiment. Using non-European case studies, we highlight the aesthetic, functional, and political potential of inclusive design grounded in diverse bodily experiences.
Ventura et al. (Sun,) studied this question.