Designing for Dignity

Lessons from Diana’s Cleavage Clutch

Have you heard of Princess Diana and her clever anti-paparazzi devices?

When leaving high-profile events, Princess Diana would strategically hold her clutch across her chest to block invasive paparazzi photos. Diana's 'cleavage clutch' wasn't just a clever hack - it was a signal of a design oversight that no one had addressed. A simple car exit became a moment of tension that required her own defensive innovation. Her clutch highlighted a vulnerability in the design of luxury cars, as the car door and roof created a moment where she was exposed to invasive paparazzi photos.

As the design industry pushes for more inclusive teams, it's not just about representation - it's about capturing these hidden design opportunities. Each unaddressed challenge is a missed chance to transform how we approach problem-solving.

Diana's clutch tells us something profound: the most revealing design insights often emerge from watching the ingenious ways people navigate around systemic limitations.

What are some other everyday challenges we're overlooking that could spark transformative design solutions?

Image sources: Glamour Magazine