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Department of Design and Merchandising
College of Health and Human Sciences

Design and Merchandising Inclusive Innovations Laboratory Empowering Innovations for Inclusive Fashion

The Inclusive Innovations Lab is a dynamic group of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate researchers dedicated to creating wearable product design solutions inclusive of diverse groups of people.

Research Areas

Featured Project

Good design is known for being innovative, useful, aesthetically pleasing, and long-lasting. Students in the Colorado State University Department of Design and Merchandising’s Product Development concentration and the Inclusive Innovations Laboratory are incorporating all of these principles along with a focus on inclusivity for consumers with physical and cognitive differences.

Inclusive Design in the Classroom
3 people look at poster displays on adaptive apparel as part of the research in the Inclusive Innovations Laboratory

In this curriculum, students explore performance cotton as a mechanism to solve apparel-related problems experienced by people with disabilities. This project is a synthesis of Inclusive Innovations Laboratory research and teaching experiences aimed at addressing clothing-related problems for people with disabilities using cotton performance technologies.

Research Areas

The Inclusive Innovations Laboratory takes an active part in centering marginalized consumer’s voices in the design and product development process. We advance the theory of product creation by applying user-centered design and inclusive design ideologies.

Custom Paralympic Shooting Jacket - Kayna Hobbs-Murphy TEDxCSU Talk
Kayna Hobbs Speaking at TedxCSU event
See Me - Adaptive Rain Kit for People Who Use a Wheelchair for Mobility Assistance
Mannequin in wheelchair with adaptive clothing as research in the Inclusive Innovations Laboratory
Afterglow: An Equitable Approach to Design
Afterglow coat backview
Research Areas

Vision and Mission The core beliefs of the ILL are:

User-Centered Design

We believe in User-Centered Design (UCD) practices where designers and researchers should work together to develop products with users. UCD considers the wearer or user as an integral part of the design process and views them as having valuable contributions to push design innovation.

Technology Enhanced Design

We believe better design is possible through technology. As 3D data becomes more available, we believe that designers can use 3D design and advanced prototyping technologies in the design process to push innovation.

Accessible and Equitably

We believe every person deserves to have access to clothing that represents their identity and meets their needs, especially those often overlooked by mass-market apparel brands.

Research and Teaching Integration

We believe in integrating these principles and research areas in the classroom to enhance student’s learning. If students are prepared to design for underserved markets, they will excel in all aspects of the fashion industry.