Designing with inclusivity in mind is crucial for creating products and services that work for everyone, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. Unfortunately, our tendency to design for ourselves and those who look like us often results in excluding a large portion of the population. This not only limits progress but can also be wasteful, as new alternatives need to be created constantly for excluded groups.
Today, this challenge is more pressing than ever, as exclusion from everyday tools and concepts further stifles growth and hinders societal participation. However, inclusive growth can benefit everyone.
The good news is that designers have the power to contribute greatly to a more sustainable future by considering the needs of everyone from the conception of their ideas. By doing so, they can create designs that work for all and reduce the need to redesign for different groups of people.
This approach has also been successful in laws and programs, known as the Curb-Cut Effect. Studies have shown that designing for inclusivity not only benefits marginalized groups but also has a positive impact on society as a whole.
This article will review seven everyday physical tools that were created with inclusive design strategies. The goal is to show the importance of inclusive design in items or concepts that we see as “normal”, and emphasise that inclusive design can be the norm, and not just an add-on, if everyone adopts it.
Bendy Straws
Joseph first marketed this invention to hospitals to help patients drink while reclining. Because of this design, people who were bedridden or who could not bend their heads at a certain angle to drink from straight straws due to mobility issues could finally comfortably sip drinks with a straw for the first time ever.
Ramps (Curb Cuts)
The Curb Cut was invented in 1945 in the US but was mandated for compulsory integration into streets in the 1990s. Imagine the level of reconstruction that must have gone into compliance. This would have been avoided if Curb Cuts were the original design.
OXO Good Grips
OXO tools are a range of kitchen utensils. The company behind these tools, OXO, began with the goal of creating a vegetable peeler that was easy to hold and use regardless of the strength or manual dexterity of its user.
According to OXO, when all users’ needs are taken into consideration in the initial design process, the result is a product that can be used by the broadest spectrum of users.
Keyboards
The keyboard, as we know it today, has its roots in inclusive design strategies that date back to the 17th century. In 1608, the Italian inventor Pellegrino Turri designed the first version of a typewriter that involved keys and metal arms with raised characters.
Today, the keyboard is an essential tool for people of all abilities, and its inclusive design roots continue to inspire innovation and progress in the world of technology.
Fidget Spinners
A fidget spinner is a circular device with three paddle-shaped blades surrounded by bearings, which you spin for relaxation or concentration.
These days, it is used by professionals for the same reason. There are also fidget spinner games and virtual versions just for entertainment purposes.
Braille Remote
Fortunately, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandated that remote controls include accessibility features like braille, changing the game for people with visual impairments. With the addition of braille, individuals can now use remote controls independently, without the need for special training or assistance.
This mandate has made remote controls more inclusive and accessible to everyone, including those with visual impairments. Today, we can all benefit from the inclusive design strategies implemented to make remote controls more accessible. It is an example of how technology can be made more accessible to people with disabilities, making our daily lives easier and more inclusive for everyone.
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While there is room to learn and expand accessibility after a product has been launched, it is by far more efficient, sustainable, and time saving to make all possible considerations at the beginning. One of Microsoft’s Inclusive Design principles is “Solve for one, extend to many”. According to Microsoft, *Creating products for people with permanent disabilities creates results that benefit everyone. *****************By adopting this mindset, product designers can develop solutions that work for a wider range of users and create products that are more inclusive and accessible to all.
By keeping inclusion in mind from the beginning, designers might avoid the need for future, expensive and time-consuming retrofits. Alternative versions or add-on features, which can be costly to develop and deploy, are less necessary when products are created with a diverse range of users in mind.
Additionally, inclusive design enables businesses to reach a wider market. Companies may reach a larger audience and increase income by developing goods that are usable by everyone, regardless of aptitude. Designing for accessibility may help both people and businesses, therefore it’s a win-win situation.
In the end, inclusive design goes beyond simply adhering to societal norms or regulatory obligations. Realizing that variety is a strength and that through incorporating it into design, we can create better products and a more inclusive society for all.
References
8 Everyday Items Originally Invented for People With Disabilities
10 Assistive Technology Tools to Help People with Disabilities in 2023 and Beyond
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