When design meets occupational therapy: A perfect intersection
AOTA member Patricia Motus believes OTPs are “human-experience engineers.”
“We don’t just treat injuries, we also design solutions for everyday problems to make life more functional and accessible,” she said.
Motus recently served on a panel presentation at SXSW in Austin, Texas, along with AOTA member Dawn Heiderscheidt and co-presenters Soyoung Ester Bae and Francisco Lasta.
Their topic, “Occupation-Centered Design: Unlocking Inclusive Experiences,” showcased how collaboration between designers and OTPs can create more meaningful engagement in spaces and with products that support well-being.
“Great design is invisible because it works,” said Motus, who owns her own private practice, Transitions OT. “It flows. It adapts. It welcomes. And it makes life easier … for all of us. This is where occupational therapy and design intersect.”
Panelist Bae is the founder of Modified Independent, a consultancy specializing in accessible design and beauty inclusivity. She said her OTP experience has shaped her own world perspective.
“OT is more than a profession. It’s really a lens through which I view the world. It helps me engage in the world. It’s a driving force for change where dignity and design should come together.”
Heiderscheidt, an OT and functional design consultant, is the founder and owner of Aurora Independence. Her company creates accessible and functional home environments to promote safety and inclusivity for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
“We make a certain assumption about the way people will use our space,” she said. “There’s the way the space was designed to be used and there’s the way the space is used. It’s really important to consider the fact that there is no default user. You have to think about all the ways your product, your service, is going to be misused, and what other options may exist in that misuse.”
For panelist Francisco Lasta, who serves as Inclusive Design Lead at M2 Architecture, the opportunity to present at SXSW seemed like a natural fit for OTPs.
“SXSW is a global stage where bold ideas converge, he said. “It brings together leaders in tech, media, design, health, art, and culture. Our multi-dimensional expertise as OTPs intersects with these industries. We can offer important insight into how people engage with the world.
“By being present at SXSW, we position OT as a vital voice in shaping the future, ensuring that innovation across all sectors prioritizes more inclusive, meaningful ways to experience ‘occupations.’”
Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW® brings tens of thousands of people every March to its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture.