Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Design in Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain

Abstract

Spain, and particularly Barcelona and Catalonia, have emerged in recent decades as laboratories for EDI practices in urban design, public spaces and policies. However, this institutional and legislative progress has not been equally reflected in Design education, where the integration of EDI remains fragmented and often superficial. This article contextualizes the findings of the EDIDesK project, which investigated the integration of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles into design education and practice in Spain. Focusing on Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain, the article uses a historical analysis to show how urban design has served as a primary vehicle for implementing EDI principles, from early accessibility policies to contemporary intersectional feminist approaches. Our research reveals a significant disparity between Spain's progressive EDI achievements in urban design and the limited incorporation of these principles into Design curricula.