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Inclusive Design
Inclusive Design
Inclusive Design concerns developing products that can be used by as many different groups as possible, such as disabled and able bodied, young and old consumers.
Very often, changes in products to accommodate disabled users can also be of benefit to the able-bodied e.g. more user-friendly appliances.
Designers working on inclusive designs will often use techniques to give them the experience of what it is like to be disabled in order to better understand the needs of that particular group. This is a form of empathetic design. E.G wear oversize gloves to do everyday tasks.
They will also use data and observation as well as working with disabled users (see UCD) to ensure that they meet their specific needs.
Adapted products
Adapted products
Many products have been changed to meet the needs of disabled users and designers are now more aware of trying to make these products as ambiguous as possible so they don’t stand out as being simply for ‘disabled use’. Such an area includes shower areas where the necessary aids fold away to be almost ‘invisible’ when not needed or other features to make bathing more practical.
Exclusive design
Exclusive design
Designing for other groups in society
Designing for other groups in society
People in the 95th percentile will have very large body sizes either because of their height or their weight and build.
This has already resulted in the need for XXXL clothing, fully adjustable car seats, steering wheels and seat belts and is likely to be more important as the weight of the population in general increases.
Deliberate exclusivity
Deliberate exclusivity
Sometimes products are deliberately designed for a particular group or market and are not meant to be accessible by everyone.
E.G.
high chairs and buggies are for use by children only.
Motorcycle helmets are meant to be worn by adults and not young children.
Chopsticks are not intended as a general piece of cutlery as they are a cultural choice, and this kind of ‘exclusivity’ is perfectly acceptable.
What is more questionable is ‘exclusivity’ for a particular group based purely on their physical appearance or wealth. Gold plated macbooks costing hundreds of thousands offer no more function than standard macbooks but are only available to those with large amounts of money to spare. Such design is purely for vanity with no humanitarian benefits.
Should this be allowed?
Designing for other groups in society
Designing for other groups in society
As mentioned during unit 1.8.2 there are some groups that fall into the 5th and 95th percentiles.
Designing for children
Designing for children
Children are generally in the 5th percentile based on physical size compared to adults and designers need to be aware of their smaller sizes and physical abilities.
Many products already take this into account such as baby spoons and bottles but a designer can also use this to make it difficult for a child to access a medicine bottle for example.
Designing for the elderly
Designing for the elderly
Adults are a different percentile to children and often fit into the 50th percentile in terms of their physical size.
They may not have a disability but, like children, they can have limited physical ability in later life meaning that products need to be adapted to make them easier to use.
E.G. lever taps, easy opening jars and bottles, elasticated clothing and easy pour kettles to name just a few.
Ironically, many elderly people need to access medication but struggle to open ‘child proof’ medicine bottles.
Exam Question (30)
Exam Question (30)
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