Before we get into the thick of it, we have to first understand what an ‘inclusive design’ is for a business.
An inclusive design is a type of design that is centered around the user not in the form of function, but on how a diverse user base can require different things. The design also has to be a problem-solving one, meaning that its inclusivity cannot—or rather, should not—create new problems or fail to solve existing ones. An inclusive design ensures that the highest number of people possible can access or use a product or service, all while ensuring that the new users have their needs addressed as well.
It is a way to remove barriers to entry through the design itself. In terms of a real-world application example, an inclusive design can range from installing ramps to allow people with wheelchairs access to a location, or providing a certain demographic with a service that resonates well with their culture. Overall, a well-made inclusive design takes note of the subtle things as well as the obvious ones.
Note: Remember that designing comes with creativity, and if you don’t have creativity you will not be considered as a designer. A designer is someone who thinks out of the box,and comes up with creative ideas.
Implementing an Inclusive Design
There are ways that businesses can incorporate an inclusive design in every aspect of their business, and this blog will provide the ways on how to do it all.
Step 1. Understand Accessibility and Inclusivity in Design
When one thinks of an inclusive design, one of the first blunders that we all can easily make is to think of an accessible one. Granted, an accessible design is part of inclusivity, but it is not the whole story. Instead, it is one part of it, and we need accessibility to incorporate inclusivity.
That being said, understanding the difference between the two is also the first step. For one, an accessible design ensures that people with disabilities or differently abled people have the tools and methods provided to them to make the use of a company’s services possible that their disabilities would otherwise hinder or prohibit.
An accessible design is when a mobile application or the smartphone itself uses the functionalities of the phone to allow users that—for example—are blind, are able to operate it fully via voice commands. Inclusivity, however, is to remove barriers of entry should there be any, and can be representative of more contextual and circumstantial aspects rather than based on capability. In simpler terms, companies that bring about inclusivity in their design incorporate inclusion where it is lacking or non-existent. The diversity of people, their ideologies, beliefs, and other aspects not often considered are taken into account.
The broad range of factors that come into play with these considerations makes inclusivity a large-scale endeavor rather than something limited to functionality.
Step 2. You Need an Inclusivity Mindset throughout Your Business
One thing to note about an inclusive design is that it cannot be done in an existing foundation of design, but rather, one that demands a radical change from the ground up. That means businesses cannot address inclusivity whilst keeping it something to consider later on. It has to be a consideration at the very beginning, and has to remain in the mindset throughout. Otherwise, treating it as an afterthought or an add-in is sure to result in a mediocre inclusive design.
An inclusive design is an ongoing process. You cannot have a set methodology to incorporate it, but rather, keep dynamism and willingness to change intact within it. It needs commitment to continually learn and take what has been learned, putting into the design.
Step 3. Put Some Personality into It
Continuous learning is critical because it is especially important because inclusive design is a process where personal solutions and experience-based services are more desired, all while keeping things adaptive and able to change. There are no check boxes that need to be filled to address certain demographics, but to address all demographics without resorting to token inclusivity. That means that there is always room for improvement.
When personal experience and adaptive experiences are prioritized, it automatically leads to the design process having a better decision base. It also helps create a brand that is inclusive as well, leading to even stronger inclusivity and allows your business to resonate with more people.
Step 4. You Will Always Assume. Let Your Audience Know It
Most businesses have a focus, a niche, a target audience that they design the product around and ensure that their needs are fulfilled with the product, the brand, and every other interaction point of the target audience. An inclusive design, however, is quite different, in that it attempts to cater to the target demographic and the other niches that might otherwise not be considered.
Not only does this remove barriers to entry, but also allow more customers and reaching niches to take your business to the next level. Moreover, people change over time as well, so the business has to remain adaptive. However, in doing so, we will always end up making assumptions about our audience, assumptions that have to be addressed. In doing so, the audience can recognize that efforts towards inclusivity are being made, and it is a constantly-changing, ongoing process that is not perfect by any means.
Step 5. Consider Unorthodox Methods and Ideas
Assumptions can often put us in a box, where we assume that one particular demographic will prefer this one particular attribute or aspect of your product or service. However, in an inclusive design, this is an opportunity to challenge the norm, and seek out perspectives and ideas that you might have thought doesn’t work for your business.
One necessary aspect is to actively seek out those perspectives that you might not have otherwise considered. This can be done by testing various types of designs across focus groups of diverse peoples, listening to customer reviews, seeing what is being done that customers love, and what they don’t.
Remember, not only are you trying to solve problems, but also ensure that you don’t create any for others. A design that works for one but doesn’t work for others is not inclusive, but exclusive, which means that you need to be in a constant state of flux with regards to your design. That means the earlier you start being inclusive, the better it will be for your business to incorporate an inclusive design.
The reason for this is simple. Inclusivity means people from unique perspectives interact with and use your product or service, and bringing people that have or understand those unique perspectives can help you develop with consideration for them as well as the niche you already serve. It is a strategic decision that brings betterment to your business.
Step 6. Use Your Design Process as the Method Itself
In any design process, there are ideas and concepts that get thrown around, addressed, discarded, and then used again. It requires that you are constantly able to change and can pivot to a new direction should it be viable or necessary.
In this way, the design process itself and incorporating inclusivity are a match made in heaven. Just like how a design process is made to address pain points that are identified, or issues that come up in testing, an inclusive design does the same. It makes the brand a solution that anyone and everyone can be a part of, and a process that takes its audience along for the ride.
How an Inclusive Design Benefits Businesses
An inclusive design is especially beneficial to businesses, especially when businesses consider less obvious aspects towards inclusivity. Inclusivity creates a better experience for everyone, not just an exclusive niche, meaning that it brings a larger customer base to your business, and benefits to boot.
Inclusive designs also change the way we do business, and the way we think. It is not a buzzword, but rather, a real-world application that can truly be beneficial to everyone, whether you are a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or a multi-million dollar business.
Conclusion | Inclusive Business Designs
Being inclusive is no longer a term that gets thrown around, but is rather a real-world application that requires forethought, consideration, and contemporary techniques to get right. It is an ongoing process that needs companies to change the way they think and the way they conduct business.
That is why this blog is all about incorporating an inclusive design in your business. In this blog, we tell you about incorporating inclusivity in the design itself, so that those demographics that might otherwise not be able to use a product or service due to its design can finally do so, all while having their personal or individual needs being addressed through design decisions that take agility and adaptability in the design process in mind.
