Universal Design

• About The Instructor

• Role: Google interaction designer

  Focus: Scaling accessibility in design systems

• Background:

  Started in animation/gaming Moved to UX later

• Passion:

  Using tech to help marginalized groups Worked on products for chronic pain

• Design Evolution for Inclusion

• Universal Design

  “One product for widest range of abilities” Problem: “Like one-size-fits-all hat”

  • Loses effectiveness
  • Excludes many users

• Inclusive Design

  “Solutions for different needs” Considers:

  • Ability, race, economics
  • Language, age, gender

  Philosophy: “Solve for one, extend to many” Includes excluded populations in design process Key point: “No such thing as normal user”

  • Focus on blind/deaf needs first
  • Build for additional excluded groups

• Equity-Focused Design

  “Newest industry goal” Purpose: “Design for historically excluded groups” Equality vs Equity:

  • Equality: Same support for all
  • Equity: Different support for fair outcomes

  Process:

  • Identify product
  • Find historically excluded groups
  • Center design around them

• Implementation Notes

• “Often not required by schools/companies”
• “Every designer should know accessibility basics”
• No approach solves all problems
• “All methods work toward equitable future”