The Seattle Design Festival is a platform for bold design conversations. We believe that design is for everyone and that inclusive co-design practices are essential to shaping an equitable Seattle. We are multidisciplinary, socially engaged and civic minded.
Accessibility
Our Commitment to Inclusive Design
Design should be for everyone. SDF believes that meaningful participation isn’t just about physical access—it’s about creating experiences where everyone feels welcome, represented, and empowered.
We prioritize accessibility as we plan all of our Festival events, and require all Festival Partners to prioritize safety, inclusivity, equity, and accessibility when designing their experiences. While we’re proud of our progress, we recognize that creating truly inclusive spaces is an ongoing journey of learning and improvement.
What Does Accessibility Mean to Us?
An equitable, inclusive, and accessible Festival experience creates meaningful participation opportunities for everyone, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, socioeconomic status, or identities.
Our Approach Includes:
- Diverse Representation: Content developed by and representing varied cultures, perspectives, and traditions
- Multi-Sensory Engagement: Touchable elements, audio components, and visual experiences that engage multiple senses
- Digital Accessibility: Digital descriptions of Festival elements
- Physical Accessibility: Accommodation for different heights, mobility needs, and spatial requirements
- Economic Accessibility: Keeping 99% of our programming free or low-cost
- Language Accessibility: Providing key information in multiple languages when possible
Our Community Standard
Seattle Design Festival envisions a culture of design that fosters equitable, resilient, and thriving communities. To achieve this vision, it is critical that we cultivate and sustain an inclusive environment rooted in trust, mutual respect, and accountability.
To support this, SDF and AIA Seattle worked together to develop a Community Standard, to support our growth as members of this shared community.
It is the expectation that all Seattle Design Festival contributors agree to uphold and integrate these standards in all Seattle Design Festival-related activities and shared spaces. We are grateful to everyone for helping further our mission, values, and goals!
We’re Always Improving
We recognize that accessibility is an ongoing commitment. Each year, we evaluate our efforts and look for ways to improve. We welcome your feedback and suggestions!
Help Us Do Better
Have suggestions for how we can make the Festival more accessible and inclusive? We want to hear from you! Send us a message at info@seadesignfest.org