Inequity and suffering bother me, says design pioneer who has changed lives

She's spent decades ensuring environments, products cater to people of all ages, abilities

- Wong Kim Hoh

It is Feb 15, and Dr Patricia Moore, the 73-year-old design pioneer and gerontologist, is spreading love a day late.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she digs into her bag and pulls out a collection of vibrant red origami hearts.

"It's a day late, but here you go," she chuckles, pressing one into my hands.

Her warmth extends far beyond paper craft. Known as the "Mother of Empathy" in the design world, she has built a career around improving the human experience through understanding and connection.

She leans in to relate an encounter with a distressed airline counter staff member facing angry and unruly passengers at London's Heathrow Airport in the summer of 2024.

"It was chaotic," Dr Moore says, her big eyes sparkling at the memory. "She looked like she was about to break down. So, I asked if I could give her a hug."

The woman, on the verge of tears, admitted that she was ready to quit on the spot. That hug, however, changed everything.

The simple embrace is a testament to Dr Moore's lifelong commitment to creating a more humane world through human connection and design.

The pioneer of universal design, who has received honorary doctorates from several academic institutions including Syracuse University and the College for Creative Studies, has spent decades ensuring that products and environments cater to people of all ages and abilities.

Her work on everything from ergonomic potato peelers to healthcare facility designs has earned her numerous accolades. They include the 2019 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award from the Smithsonian Design Museum honouring individuals who have profoundly influenced design theory and practice, and the 2022 World Design Medal by the World Design Organisation which celebrates significant contributions to the industrial design profession on a global scale.