Designing for Dignity: How Inclusive Innovation Can Restore Independence with Douglas Katz

What if good design wasn't about making accommodations but about restoring autonomy, dignity, and independence?In this episode, we sit down with Douglas Katz, a West Point graduate, disabled Army veteran, inventor, and lifelong problem solver who is rethinking how everyday products can serve people navigating aging, disability, caregiving, and recovery.Doug's approach to innovation is deeply personal. After living with upper-extremity limitations and caring for his father, he experienced firsthand how poorly many everyday tools are designed for people with changing physical abilities. Instead of accepting those limitations, he began designing solutions based on real-world needs and lived experience.We explore the story behind NULU, an adaptive kitchen knife designed around circular motion and centralized force transfer to reduce strain and improve control. We also discuss Golfresco, a modular outdoor table system created to make gathering, eating, and connecting easier in outdoor spaces.But Doug's work goes far beyond individual products. His broader mission is to close the gap between clinical medical equipment and everyday products that don't actually work for people with disabilities or limitations.Doug brings a refreshing perspective to innovation: don't design for an imagined user when you can design from lived reality.This is a conversation about aging, disability, entrepreneurship, engineering, resilience, and the belief that losing a capability doesn't have to mean losing independence.Good design shouldn't require an apology. It should simply make life work better. https://entrepreneurofimpact.org/2026/douglas-katz#DouglasKatz #InclusiveDesign #HumanCenteredDesign #AdaptiveDesign #Accessibility #Innovation #ProductDesign #Entrepreneurship #Veterans #Aging #Disability #Caregiving #AssistiveTechnology #DesignThinking #Engineering #Resilience #Independence #Dignity #PurposeDrivenBusiness #Podcast #DesignWave