Inclusivity of design solutions
The importance of user-centred design
Trying to include all people fairly, regardless of gender, race, class, sexuality, disability etc. is the practice of including people who may otherwise be excluded or Treating someone as if they are not important.. Designers often aim to design products that can be accessed by as large a market as possible and, because of this, they take into consideration areas such as size, shape, disabilities and culture.
The way a product is designed so it is as accessible to as many people as possible. is an approach to designing that is When the end user is consulted throughout the design process.. It should put the user at the heart of the designing process with an aim of ensuring the products are accessible to everyone. Designs should be:
- inclusive - can be used by everyone safely and easily and have little restrictions of use due to cultural differences or circumstances
- convenient - can be used by everyone with ease
- flexible - the user experience can be adapted to suit individuals
- welcoming - no design barriers to a product’s use
To ensure inclusivity is at the forefront of the design process, considerations should include:
- colour - the choice of colours shouldn’t offend cultures or prevent the product from being used by people with colour blindness
- signage - the text and symbols used should be universal and have no language barriers
- function - the product should be easy for the user to use, working as it was designed to
- material choice - the materials used should not offend people or cultures, eg avoiding using animal products where other options might be available
- user interface - the parts the user will interact with should be clear and easy to use, eg colour, size and layout of text
