Beyond Accessibility: The Power of Truly Inclusive Design

As digital presence expands throughout the world and people depend on technology more and more in their daily lives, not everyone has equal access to or ability to use such life-changing products. Inclusive Design addresses this issue specifically, going beyond notions of “traditional” accessibility, which would primarily tackle usability issues for permanent disabilities such as complete deafness or blindness. 

The focus of Inclusive Design is to create experiences that respect and fit the user’s broad range of needs, such as economic inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and situational disabilities. 

Why it matters?

As mentioned before, Internet has entered all aspects and parts of society's routine with such an impact that it has become imperative for every person to be involved with it at least in some fashion. Therefore, the inclusion of all society has an ethical and democratic implication similar to access to basic survival and dignifying resources. A person without proper internet access is voided of major benefits and has an unfair disadvantage/limitation in the contemporary world.

Regarding companies’ perspectives, there are endless possibilities and potential market differentiators to consider when talking about inclusive design. The main opportunities to consider are:

• Expand the user base through the inclusion of underserved demographics.

• Positive impact on the company’s image with socially responsible positioning

• Build brand loyalty by empathizing with the users and making the experience not only compliant with accessibility standards but also genuinely enhancing usability for all users.

Economic Inclusivity

In a world where economic discrepancy affects billions of people, Inclusive design has the power to minimize or at least help a bit those affected by this unfortunate situation. Such as:

Lighter app versions: Many applications already utilize stripped-down versions of the product by optimizing it to perform similarly to the original, while using less memory, processing, and internet consumption. For example, avoiding large imagery and complex animations.

Device compatibility: Apps available to older or low-end operating systems and devices, with adaptable User Interface for smaller screen sizes and resolutions.

Offline access: The user won’t have access to a constant internet connection at all times, being either temporarily without signal or having a limited amount of internet connection. The possibility of downloading the content onto your device opens up possibilities to even the most remote of users. 

Cultural Sensitivity

At the same time that the internet digitally connects the whole world, it also connects people from completely different backgrounds, languages, cultures, and habits. All of these demand some adaptations by the companies in order to achieve full functionality and potential with their design. Some aspects to consider:

Linguistics: Not all languages work or are read the same. One of the main tasks of a designer is to make sure the interfaces are easily understandable and usable. An example of necessary layout adaptation is when dealing with right-to-left (RTL) languages that require mirrored layouts, such as Arabic and Hebrew.

Symbolism: Some obvious gestures and colors in Western society might not mean the same thing in other cultures. One interesting example is the “thumbs-up” gesture, which in some countries in the Middle East is quite offensive.

Navigation habits: In the same way different cultures, environments, and surroundings affect people’s daily lives, each culture responds differently to how they navigate online. From payment method preferences to purchase and exploration behavior, where western consumers rely more on browsing and product reviews, while in China livestream shopping is very popular. Contrasting behaviors that affect directly the prioritization and choice of UI elements.

Situational Disabilities

Not all disabilities are permanent, sometimes users are limited temporarily depending on circumstances and environmental factors, therefore, unable to properly use the application. By considering situational disabilities, the design ensures it remains usable across multiple different situations, while also improving usability for all users. A few key points to consider are:

Environmental Factors: Users might find themselves in loud or quite poorly lit environments, which requires the designers to think of solutions to situationally help the user. There are many solutions to those scenarios, such as visual cues on the interface, notifications with vibrations, dark modes, or high-contrast modes.

Physical Context: There is a need for specific applications to be able to perform normally while holding the device with only one hand (while carrying groceries, or holding a child with the other hand…). Voice commands or simple and intuitive clicks make a tremendous difference.

Temporary Impairments: Routine injuries or fatigue can directly affect whether an application works or not. By using minimalistic design, actionable and clear feedback, voice controls, and alternative input methods, designers can significantly improve usability and avoid unintended user errors.

Conclusion

Inclusive Design is always evolving and transforming the lives of millions, maybe billions, while working with accessibility to make the digital realm a better and more inclusive place. The designer’s job is to make sure that all have a better experience, no matter who they are. This mindset and concept not only affects the users but also has immense ramifications for the companies and how they perform in an ever-changing market.