Increasing the uptake of inclusive design in industry

Abstract

There is an increasing awareness of the need to design for a wide range of potential users, as reflected by approaches such as Inclusive Design. It has been shown that increasing usability and accessibility for older and disabled people benefits users in general because, where some are excluded from using a product or service, many more are likely to find it difficult or frustrating to use. However, while many companies agree with the principles of designing inclusively, many products are still difficult to use. This paper examines why this is so, presenting results from a survey of 101 UK companies. We discuss the nature of the main barriers and drivers for inclusive design and how these vary across companies. We consider how the barriers can be overcome and the drivers encouraged, in order to increase the uptake of Inclusive Design in the commercial world. Two case studies are presented, showing how Inclusive Design has been implemented effectively in industry.

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