Inclusive Design
Overview of Inclusive Design at CROWN & our design house, Something Forever.
We had the pleasure of working with small startup brands and huge multinationals to implement inclusive design principles, and were fortunate to work closely alongside the Microsoft Design team to create their industry-leading Inclusive Design Toolkit. This led to presentations at SXSW, partnerships with RISD, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, 20th Century Fox/Disney, Ideo, Wired, and NASA, and was the tip of the spear that pulled the organization out of its decade-long period of irrelevance amongst creatives.
Inclusive Design Fundamentals
Inclusive design is an approach to creating products, environments, and experiences that are accessible and usable by as many people as possible, regardless of their age, ability, or status in society. This concept goes beyond mere accessibility; it involves designing systems and products that not only meet the minimum legal standards but also engage and include diverse and often underrepresented populations in meaningful ways. The goal is to design for all people, including those with disabilities, elderly individuals, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Understanding Inclusive Design
Inclusive design is rooted in the recognition that human needs and abilities are fluid and vary across different contexts and environments. This variability can depend on a range of factors including physical, sensory, cognitive conditions, as well as different cultural, social, and economic conditions. Inclusive design aims to respond to this diversity by creating solutions that are flexible and adaptable, allowing more people to participate fully in society.
Principles of Inclusive Design
Equitable Use: The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users.
Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
Simple and Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably with a minimum of fatigue.
Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility.
Benefits of Inclusive Design
Economic: By designing products and services that are more accessible to a wider range of people, businesses can tap into new markets and increase their potential customer base. For example, the aging population, a significant and growing market, has specific needs that inclusive design can address.
Social: Inclusive design promotes social inclusion and equality by enabling everyone to participate fully in everyday activities. It helps to break down barriers between people with and without disabilities, promoting a more inclusive society.
Innovation: Constraints can lead to breakthroughs. By considering the needs of a diverse range of users from the outset, designers can discover innovative solutions that improve usability and functionality for everyone.
Implementing Inclusive Design
Implementing inclusive design requires a paradigm shift in how products and environments are conceptualized and developed. It involves:
Empathy and Awareness: Understanding the needs and experiences of diverse users through research and direct engagement.
Co-design: Including users, especially those from underrepresented or marginalized groups, in the design process to ensure that outcomes reflect their real-world needs and experiences.
Standards and Guidelines: Following existing standards and guidelines that promote accessibility and usability.
Continuous Feedback: Continually testing and iterating on products with a broad user base to uncover areas for improvement and ensure the design remains relevant and effective.
Challenges in Inclusive Design
While the benefits are significant, there are challenges in implementing inclusive design:
Complexity and Cost: It may be seen as more complex or costly to design products that cater to such a wide range of needs.
Balancing Different Needs: Different users can have conflicting needs, and it can be challenging to design products that accommodate everyone.
Awareness and Skill: There is often a lack of awareness about inclusive design principles, and not all designers have the necessary skills or training.
Future of Inclusive Design
As technology evolves and our understanding of diverse needs deepens, the potential for inclusive design to create meaningful change grows. Advances in technology, such as AI and machine learning, offer new ways to personalize experiences and adapt interfaces dynamically. Moreover, as global demographics shift towards more diverse populations, the demand for inclusive products and services is likely to increase.
Inclusive design isn't just about compliance with accessibility laws or creating products for people with disabilities. It's about fundamentally rethinking the way products are designed, from the ground up, to reflect the true diversity of human experience. This approach not only benefits individuals but also serves as a catalyst for creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
We also encourage you to visit our internal design team HQ over at SOMETHING FOREVER Design House.