As someone who’s been in the UX trenches for years, I’ve seen trends come and go, but one constant remains—the need to design with everyone in mind. My journey towards understanding the importance of inclusivity in design wasn’t overnight. It was a gradual awakening, sparked by real stories from real users who struggled with the digital world we often take for granted.
Picture this, someone unable to complete an online purchase because the checkout button wasn’t accessible with their screen reader. Or consider the frustration of a color-blind user unable to navigate a website due to poor color contrast. These stories hit hard, and they got me thinking, “How many people are we leaving behind?”
The Ripple Effect of Inclusive Design
Inclusivity and accessibility in design aren’t just about ticking boxes for compliance; they’re about acknowledging and valuing the diverse tapestry of human experience. When we design with all users in mind, we’re not just opening doors for those with disabilities; we’re enhancing the user experience for everyone. Imagine the ripple effect of such an approach—products that are more intuitive, user-friendly, and, frankly, just better.
Let’s talk turkey for a moment. Ignoring inclusivity isn’t just a missed moral mark; it’s a business blunder. The global spending power of people with disabilities is massive, running into the trillions. By not designing for accessibility, businesses are essentially leaving money on the table. Moreover, accessible designs often lead to innovations that benefit a broader user base, driving customer satisfaction and loyalty through the roof.
I won’t sugarcoat it—integrating inclusivity and accessibility into the design process has its hurdles. It demands a shift in perspective, from designing for some mythical average user to embracing the full, vibrant spectrum of humanity. This shift isn’t always easy. It calls for empathy, a commitment to continuous learning, and, above all, a dose of creativity to find solutions that cater to diverse needs.
The Good, the Bad, and the Innovative
The implications of ignoring inclusivity and accessibility are stark. On one end, there’s the risk of alienating millions of potential users and facing legal repercussions. On the other, there’s the chance to lead the charge toward a more inclusive digital world.
But here’s the kicker: Inclusive design doesn’t just stop at avoiding negative outcomes—it’s a gateway to innovation. By challenging ourselves to think outside the standard design box, we uncover new ways of solving problems that can revolutionize how we approach UX design.
Companies need to embed empathy and understanding at the core of their design process. This means engaging with users with disabilities, listening to their experiences, and learning from them. It’s about leveraging technology not just for the sake of innovation but to create genuinely accessible and empowering user experiences.
Let’s ground this in the tangible shift experienced by SHL, a company at the forefront of psychometric assessments and skill competency evaluations where I was leading the user research and design efforts as a Senior UX Designer. I was supporting SHL’s journey from distributing paper-based PDF reports of candidate assessments to adopting a web platform-based reporting system. This transition, while seemingly straightforward, is fraught with unique challenges and opportunities, particularly in the realm of accessibility.
The Data Density Dilemma
Considering the intricate details and nuanced interpretations required in psychometric and skill competency reports, these documents are not just data dumps but are crafted to provide deep insights into a candidate’s potential fit and future performance. On paper, or in static PDFs, these reports demand careful study, often necessitating back-and-forth comparisons and notes in the margins. The challenge in moving to a web-based system is not just in digitizing this content but in making such a dense array of information accessible and intelligible to all users, including those with disabilities.
A Web Platform Transformation
The move to a web platform presents a unique opportunity to reimagine how this information is presented and accessed. Accessibility comes into play by ensuring that every piece of the report is navigable, understandable, and usable for people with a range of abilities. This includes:
- Screen Reader Compatibility: Ensuring that text is presented in a way that screen readers can easily interpret and convey to visually impaired users. This involves careful attention to HTML structure, use of ARIA roles, and alternative text for graphical data;
- Interactive Data Visualization: Transforming static charts and graphs into interactive elements that all users can explore. For those with visual impairments, this could involve data sonification (turning data points into sound), while for users with motor impairments, ensuring keyboard navigability is crucial;
- Customizable Presentation: Allowing users to adjust how information is presented, such as changing font sizes, colors, or contrast levels, can make reports more accessible to individuals with specific visual needs.
The Real-World Impact
This transition also underscores a broader principle: accessibility enriches user experience for everyone, not just those with disabilities. It prompts designers to think creatively about presenting complex information in clear, understandable, and interactive ways. The end result? A platform that not only meets compliance standards but sets a new benchmark for inclusive design.
SHL’s evolution from paper to digital is more than a technological upgrade; it’s a commitment to inclusivity. It showcases how, in the quest to make every user’s experience seamless and insightful, accessibility challenges can drive innovation, making the elusive unicorn of accessibility a tangible reality in the digital realm.
Designing for inclusivity and accessibility is a journey, not a destination. It requires ongoing commitment, creativity, and collaboration. As UX designers, we have the power and responsibility to create digital experiences that are not only usable but truly accessible to everyone. By doing so, we not only open up our products to a wider audience but also contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse digital world.
