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Importance of Inclusivity in Design
A Design solution is accepted by its group of audience because of its simple yet intuitive design structure. This is the general approach followed by all world class designers. Although, there always remains a set of users who do not fit in; with respect to the usage of any product. This is where the inclusivity of a design solution comes into picture.
What is Inclusive design?
Products so designed which embrace the diversity of its users, which gives the feeling of being included while they interact with the product and a design solution which truly revolves around the term ‘human centered design’ is what inclusive design is. Designing for as many different types of people as possible, breaking the barriers; be it cultural, language or one’s ability to carry out everyday things, holds the core for building an inclusive design solution. It is more like a process which designers should follow for the development of any product. Solutions thus built are highly celebrated in the market and become a universal design.
Difference between Universal design and Inclusive design
Inclusive design and universal design are generally mistaken by majority.
Although there is a slight difference between the two.
Universal design spreads wide with an aim of being used by everyone in a particular environment. It is designed on the basis of fewer personas and therefore it emphasizes the end design solution. Therefore universal designs might not involve the participation of excluded communities.
Inclusive design aims for all types of users regardless of one’s ability or inability and is not constrained to any particular environment. It involves the probability of every community in the world. Therefore inclusive design might not lead to universal designs.
How can you achieve Inclusive design?
- Understanding the user – It is important for a designer to describe it’s set of users in order to make better design decisions. The wider the frame, the more the design will have its inclusivity.
- Different possibilities to a design problem – Thinking of various directions for any product usage definitely will cover a larger user group. It also helps in simplifying the product thus making it more accessible.
- Creating for one and extending it to many ; so everyone has that sense of belonging through the design.
Appreciated examples of Inclusive design
Inclusive Scissor
How an ordinary kitchen scissor can be simplified by designing its handle which is comfortable to use thus opening multiple ways of its usage in any situation. Similarly, many other typical products can be designed differently in order to hit greater user acceptance and adaptation.
Vegetable Peeler
The regular vegetable peeler is the most used in the market, yet, it can be painful for people with arthritis. Therefore as a solution for this the oxo group designed an inclusive vegetable peeler having handles with innovative designs which makes them more comfortable to use.
Electric toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes were initially created for patients with limited motor skills and for orthodontic patients. Although it has become popular within consumers who don’t have this issue. Likewise, a product which is designed having the user group which is generally excluded can ultimately cater to a wider audience.
Google's voice search & voice typing
We can now use our voice to do several actions like search, get directions, setting reminders, checking weather forecasts and many more just by saying ‘Hey Google’. This feature was initially designed for hearing-impaired people but now everyone is using it. Along with this Google voice typing also follows the same technique, it is a dictation tool for Google Docs and Google Slides and is now available in androids as well.
Facebook's autoplay video feature
Sometimes there are situations where people find it difficult in accessing the product technology not because of some physical impairment but because of the situation or the context they are in, it could be the background noise if the user is in some crowded place which makes it difficult for the user to hear properly, it could be poor lighting or no appropriate color contrast making it harder to see and a lack of space which affects in degrading the ability to physically interact with the solution.
For a designer to build a sustainable design he/she must design for everyone and make design solutions more ‘human’, in order to eliminate the biased designs which scream out to the people who are excluded from the essence of experiencing a ‘good design’. Through inclusive design normalcy and balance can be achieved which holds the roots of future designs.
Images and illustrations used above belong to owners and are only for contextual relevance
Appreciated examples of Inclusive Design
Inclusive scissor
How a scissor can be simplified thus opening multiple ways of its usage in any situation. Similarly, many other typical products can be designed differently in order to hit greater user acceptance and adaptation.
Vegetable Peeler
The regular vegetable peeler is the most used in the market, yet, it can be painful for people with arthritis. Therefore as a solution for this the oxo group designed an inclusive vegetable peeler having handles with innovative designs which makes them more comfortable to use.
Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes were initially created for patients with limited motor skills and for orthodontic patients. Although it has become popular within consumers who don’t have this issue. Likewise, a product which is designed having the user group which is generally excluded can ultimately cater to a wider audience.
Google's voice search & voice typing
We can now use our voice to do several actions like search, get directions, setting reminders, checking weather forecasts and many more just by saying ‘Hey Google’. This feature was initially designed for hearing-impaired people but now everyone is using it. Along with this Google voice typing also follows the same technique, it is a dictation tool for Google Docs and Google Slides and is now available in androids as well.
Facebook's autoplay video feature
Sometimes there are situations where people find it difficult in accessing the product technology not because of some physical impairment but because of the situation or the context they are in, it could be the background noise if the user is in some crowded place which makes it difficult for the user to hear properly, it could be poor lighting or no appropriate color contrast making it harder to see and a lack of space which affects in degrading the ability to physically interact with the solution.
For a designer to build a sustainable design he/she must design for everyone and make design solutions more ‘human’, in order to eliminate the biased designs which scream out to the people who are excluded from the essence of experiencing a ‘good design’. Through inclusive design normalcy and balance can be achieved which holds the roots of future designs.
Images and illustrations used above belong to owners and are only for contextual relevance