Practical tips for inclusive design in your prototypes and demos by Clare Warburton

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Embracing Inclusive Design: A New Perspective in Technology

Welcome to another insightful session! Today, we’re diving into the captivating world of inclusive design. I am Claire Warburton, a tech veteran working for over two decades in the industry. Currently, I am working with Pega Systems, a US-based low-code software company.

For the next few minutes, we'll be exploring the critical need for inclusive design and practical ways to implement it in the technology you create. So, without any further delay, let's get started!

Understanding Inclusive Design

Inclusive design, in essence, addresses a wide range of factors: accessibility, age, culture, economic situation, education, gender, geographic location, language, and race. It goes beyond convergence and fosters a sense of understanding and acceptance. When designing a product, it's just as important to consider those who are excluded as it is to focus on those included.

Inclusive Design: Why Does It Matter?

Striving towards inclusion has immeasurable benefits. Although achieving 100% inclusivity could be challenging, the effort is worth it. Inclusivity is a vital key to building trust and fostering robust and long-lasting relationships, especially within a sales environment. Always remember to make design decisions with an audience in mind – this is the first step towards inclusive design.

Pillars of Inclusive Design

There are five points I’m covering today: accessibility, age, gender, race and culture. Let’s delve into each component:

  • Accessibility: Although often overlooked in demos and prototypes, accessibility should always be at the forefront of design considerations. Always consider how format, text-size, color contrast, and the medium of your demo could be perceived by your audience.
  • Age: Generational diversity is a reality in the workforce, and it should be reflected in your design. Younger and older people should both feel represented.
  • Gender: Balance in the portrayal of genders prevents bias and maintains authenticity. Always maintain equal prominence to male and female characters in your designs.
  • Race: Same as age and gender, race must be equally represented in your designs. It’s a vital aspect of inclusive design to maintain racial diversity, ensuring no one feels excluded.
  • Culture: Be mindful of cultural references and symbols in your design. It’s always better to avoid region-specific icons or imagery, especially if your audience is diverse.

Implementing Inclusive Design in your Prototype

While inclusive design may seem a bit challenging initially, the positive implications it brings to your brand and user-experience are worth the extra effort. To ensure you’re hitting the mark, keep the following points in mind:

  1. Learn: Understand your audience’s backgrounds, passions, and trigger-points. This helps you focus your design more effectively.
  2. Plan: Keep in mind the different groups within your audience – parents, veterans, Christians, Muslims, people using accessibility aids, etc. – during the planning phase.
  3. Design: Implement decisions you've taken in your planning phase. This is when your understanding of your audience comes into play.

Closing Thoughts on Inclusive Design

Inclusive design is more than just a designing trend – it is a necessity. Our responsibility as designers is to lower the barriers and create designs that welcome, value and make people feel safe. By making your design truly inclusive, you can foster trust, build relationships, and ultimately, make a difference in the end-user experience. So, venture forth and embrace inclusive design!

Thank you for joining me in exploring the exciting world of inclusive design. Let’s strive to make technology truly inclusive, one design at a time!


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