Design Map · Eindhoven
Barriers to Access
Graduation project by Ella Feldner-Busztin at Design Academy Eindhoven, 2026. Shown during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven on Design Map, location F5.
‘Barriers to Access’ is a facilitated board game designed for corporate Diversity, Equity & Inclusion workshops. Grounded in internationally recognised disability frameworks, it explores how workplace environments can enable or disable participation. The game makes experiences of workplace disability tangible, aiming to foster empathy and understanding through play. As players complete everyday workplace tasks, they encounter different types of barriers. These range from inaccessible environments and organisational systems, to misguided everyday attitudes such as “we treat everyone the same.” As each round introduces more barriers, the game becomes progressively more difficult and frustrating, reflecting the layered realities of disability in the workplace. Ultimately, ‘Barriers to Access’ encourages organisations to recognise that disability is often more complex than it first appears. By better understanding the barriers people face, workplaces are better equipped to provide meaningful support and accommodation for their needs.