See also: Universal design

Inclusive design is a design process (not restricted to interfaces or technologies) in which a mainstream product, service or environment is designed to be usable by as many people as reasonably possible, without the need for specialised adaptions. Although inclusive design can be inspired by engagement with extreme users, who have specific needs, it differs from design for disability in its mainstream focus.[1][2] Inclusive design considers many different aspects of human diversity such as ability, language, culture, gender, and age [3]

Inclusive design and universal design

Both inclusive design and universal design have as a goal making a product, service, or environment more inclusive, meaning that a wider diversity of people can make (easy) use of it. Universal design originated in work on the design of the built environment and websites, while inclusive design arose in work on product design. The approaches are similar in practice, but inclusive design has a more explicit acknowledgement that it is not always possible for one product to meet the needs of absolutely everyone. It encourages designers to make informed decisions about what is commercially and practically feasible based on the characteristics of the target population.

Inclusive design and accessibility

Inclusive design is related to accessibility since they are both focused on making products or services available to a wider range of people. However, accessibility is more limited in scope as it is focused on specific accommodations to enable people with disabilities to obtain access to products, services or environments.

Inclusive design takes a wider approach. It considers the needs of a wider range of people, including those with minor capability impairments that may not generally be considered to be disabilities. An example is age-related long-sightedness. Inclusive design may also consider other dimensions of human difference such as culture and gender. Inclusive design also looks beyond issues of access to improving the user experience more generally.

As a result, accessibility is one piece of inclusive design, but not the whole picture. In general, designs created through an inclusive design process should be accessible, as the needs of people with different abilities are considered during the design process. But accessible designs aren't necessarily inclusive if they don't move beyond providing access to people of different abilities to consider the wider user experience and other types of human difference.[4]

Steps to inclusive design

There are a variety of methods that can help with putting inclusive design into practice. They all involve engaging with users and seeking to understand their needs. Two examples are given below.

The University of Cambridge's Inclusive Design Toolkit [5] advocates incorporating inclusive design elements throughout the design process in iterative cycles of:

  1. Exploring the needs
  2. Creating solutions
  3. Evaluating how well the needs are met

Microsoft [6] advocates a different approach with the following steps:

  1. Recognize exclusion:
  2. Solve for one, extend to many.
  3. Learn from diversity.

See also

References

  1. ^ "What is inclusive design?". Inclusive Design Toolkit. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  2. ^ BS 7000-6:2005: ‘Design management systems - Managing inclusive design’. British Standards Institute. 2005.
  3. ^ "Philosophy". Inclusive Design Research Centre. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  4. ^ "What are the differences between universal design, accessibility, and inclusive design?". sayyeah.com.
  5. ^ "Concept design process: Overview". Inclusive Design Toolkit. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Inclusive Design". www.microsoft.com.

Further reading