Europe’s Accessibility and Low Barrier Design

When we think about Sustainability — or beyond that, Regeneration — the first image that comes to mind is green. It is Nature and Environment. But whose “environment”, after all? As human societies — a piece within that “Nature”, not separate from it nor different — the first thing we need to regenerate amid this multi-crisis is our relationship with ourselves.

There is no ecological transition at scale if environmentally responsible products and services are not socio-economically accessible. Without public and collective transport, there is no real transformation of the environmental impact of mobility. Without shared and democratic governance, there is no capacity to develop policies and organisational systems that address ecological crises. Without accessible, understandable information and communication systems… there is no environmental education, nor effective narratives for change.

At Monnou, this has always been clear. We come from the world of Development Cooperation, with projects such as “PDT-Nariño” in post-conflict Colombia. From Social Design projects like “Designing What’s to Come”, working with collectives at risk of social exclusion. We have introduced participatory design components whenever possible in projects with a more environmental focus, such as “Shared Agendas for Circularity in La Foia de Castalla”. Across all these projects, I have been developing both a conceptual framework and a methodological practice around the inclusion of diverse actors in participatory processes.

At the same time, I have also focused on accessibility and social inclusion in concrete products and artefacts. The website — and exhibition — that consolidated the full process and outcomes of “Designing What’s to Come” followed these principles. And in the physical realm, no less: projects such as “ValueCare” approached editorial design from the perspective of accessibility for older people.

And yet, despite how clear this is for us, it is sometimes still not explicit to others. Suffice it to say that, very often, we are invited to address environmental challenges from a remarkably limited understanding of the social dimension.

Glorious 42: a European-level Expert Committee

At the end of 2025, after several months of selection process, I was informed that I had been chosen to join G42, an initiative of BEDA — the Bureau of European Design Associations. Specifically, within the Accessibility and Low-Barrier Design pillar.

What would a truly Sustainable Europe actually look like?

This group of experts now carries the complex mission of supporting sustainable transformation across Europe, in collaboration with European authorities. And here I must admit that, at first, I was surprised that I had been selected within the Accessibility and Low-Barrier Design pillar. The “Planetary Design” pillar — with its fundamentally environmental perspective — and “Business” — aligned with my practice in strategic design and consultancy — felt more obvious. But the selection committee recognised my background in Social Innovation, Social Design and Participatory Design… something I may myself have occasionally overlooked, having positioned much of my recent work around Circular Economy or Decarbonisation. Fortunately, G42 now places me in a space that reflects what has always underpinned my purpose: the democratic, the collective, the social.

What role does Design play in all this?

Everything is designed. Everything. That’s nothing new — if you’ve read me or spoken with me before, you’ve probably already heard me go on about this. Businesses are designed. Policies are designed. Organisations are designed. And ultimately, “designing” is nothing more than making decisions. About how we configure our continent’s transport systems. About which economic incentives shape our business models. About who participates in decision-making and how, and what mechanisms drive our governance. About how we tell these stories — and much more besides.

The importance of associative structures

We are part of G42 thanks to being embedded in associative ecosystems. BEDA could be seen as an “association of associations”. In Spain, we have READ — the Spanish Network of Design Associations. Within this network, Monnou belongs to the associations of the two territories where we are rooted: the Valencian Community (ADCV) and the Region of Murcia (DIP). And it is thanks to them that our application to this expert group was possible. Just as it is thanks to them — and to all the people and organisations who participate and contribute — that Design as a practice continues to improve, both for professionals who work within it and for the wider world.