C1.2 / Inclusive Design

UCD focuses on better mainstream solutions for everyone rather than providing different solutions for different user groups ('special needs design'). Inclusive design ensures there that there is a sufficient market for a product and increases its feasibility as an innovation.

Demographic change is a major challenge for designers. There are already over 130 million people over 50 in the EU alone. This means that one in every two adults will be over that age. The rapid ageing populations and growing numbers of people with disability are having a profound effect on new product and service design. Designs that include the needs of marginalised groups of people is regarded not only as socially desirable but also as a commercial opportunity. If you design products for people with no difficulties, you are then excluding a large portion of the population. It makes no commercial sense to do so.

Inclusive design requires designing universally acceptable products, including those with physical, sensory, cognitive and other challenges and impairments.