06/11/2023 • 7 min read
Inclusive Design Strategies
by Nishtha Bali
In an increasingly interconnected and diverse world, the importance of inclusive design strategies cannot be overstated. Inclusive design goes beyond aesthetics; it's about creating spaces, products, and services that cater to the diverse needs of people across various dimensions of diversity. Why is inclusive design essential? The statistics speak for themselves:
Market Expansion: Diverse teams are 70% more likely to capture new markets. Inclusive companies have a 120% higher chance of achieving their financial goals (Interaction UK).
Performance Boost: Teams that are racially or ethnically diverse outperform other teams by 35%, and gender-diverse teams outperform peers by 15% (McKinsey & Co. 2019).
Employee Engagement: A staggering 83% of millennials are actively engaged when they believe their organization fosters an inclusive culture (Deloitte, 2015).
To achieve inclusive design, it's crucial to understand the dimensions of diversity. These dimensions encompass primary factors such as age, physical abilities, race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, neurology, and sexual orientation, as well as secondary factors like education, class, language, marital status, and more. In this article, we will focus on primary factors such as Age, Physical Ability, Gender, and Neurology.
Good communication starts with good acoustics.
Acoustics are a crucial part of inclusivity efforts.
Jutta Treviranus, Director of the Inclusive Design Research Center at OCAD University, aptly states that anyone can experience a disability when the design, environment, attitude, or social structure excludes them. According to the Inclusive Design Toolkit by Microsoft, physical ability can be permanent, temporary, or situational. For instance, deafness can be permanent, while an ear infection is temporary, and working as a bartender in a loud bar creates situational challenges.
Treviranus emphasizes that disability is socially constructed, resulting from a mismatch between individual needs and the environment, services, or products offered (Inclusive: The Film).
The modern workforce is composed of various generations, each with its unique characteristics and motivations. We have 4 generations in the workplace today – Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z.
Here's a glimpse of the differences among these generations:
These differences can lead to misunderstandings and creating awareness around them is the key to making sure everyone feels included.
Neurodiversity acknowledges differing neurological conditions and cognitive abilities, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. The pandemic highlighted the importance of accommodating neurodiversity, with increased screen time, emotional dysregulation, and social isolation prompting adults to seek reevaluation. For example, 26% of adult readers received a formal ADHD diagnosis during the pandemic (ADDtitude). In the post-pandemic world, the workforce demands more inclusive work environments, particularly regarding attendance. If the home environment is more inclusive than the office, why would the workforce ever return! Designing for neurodiversity means creating spaces that cater to individuals with varying neurological profiles, from neurotypical to neurodivergent. Here are key considerations:
Regardless of our neurological profile, we all have our moments where we need to focus and the slightest of disturbances can distract us. Designing for neurodiversity is essentially designing for all!
Woman@Work: Part 5
Read the most recent installment in Nishtha and Adithi’s Women@Work interview series:
Gender inclusivity is a cornerstone of fostering environments that prioritize equality, respect, and dignity for individuals of all gender identities. To truly achieve this inclusivity, it must permeate every facet of our lives, ensuring that no one feels excluded or marginalized. Here are some effective ways to make the office more gender-inclusive:
By implementing these strategies, organizations can foster a gender-inclusive office environment where every employee feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute their best work.
It's essential to remember intersectionality, which acknowledges that a person's identity can expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalization. These identities can include age and gender, among others. While designing a space remember that how each person experiences your space is different.
Understanding the distinctions among accessibility, universal design, and inclusive design is key:
Accessibility: Focuses on ensuring that environments are USABLE by people with disabilities, addressing auditory, cognitive, physical, and visual disabilities.
Universal Design: Aims to create ONE experience accessible to the greatest extent possible by all people without adaptations or specialized design.
Inclusive Design: Considers the diversity of experiences that may exclude individuals from effectively using an interface. It seeks to create a VARIETY of ways for everyone to participate and belong. (nngroup)
Having said that, the three can also be very similar. They work to lower barriers and make products usable by all people, recognize that disability happens at the point of interaction between people and their environment and learn from the way people adapt to their environment based on their abilities in a given context (Toptal).
Learn more about Haworth’s most circular lounge chair, the Haworth Cardigan.
Achieving inclusivity requires deliberate and intentional actions (Maze):
In summary, designing for diversity through inclusive design strategies is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. Embracing age, physical ability, gender, and neurological diversity fosters innovation, enhances performance, and creates environments where everyone can thrive. By following the principles of inclusive design, we can build a more equitable and accessible world for all.
This article was originally published on Nishtha Bali’s LinkedIn page.
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