June 21, 2022

38 examples of how to design for diversity, inclusion and accessibility

Users of products and services are diverse; they have different needs, abilities, interests, and desires. As service designers / CX managers we must consider diversity, and design for it. But how can we make products and services inclusive and accessible to everyone? We collected a few best practice examples from all over the world to show: Sometimes it doesn’t take much to design for diversity. 

colorful wall with sign: "accessible entry"

Sometimes you need to re-design products and packaging to make them accessible…

1. Did you ever think about how we could make it easier for visually impaired people to understand what kind of product they hold in their hands? Like food and beverages. 

2. When they go shopping for themselves, and their loved ones.

3. Or sanitary products, like soap.

4. Sometimes we don’t have to design an entirely new product, but a little add-on might do the job perfectly.

5. Or a simple overlay.

… sometimes it’s about interior design and wayfinding…

6. I bet this would be used not only by disabled people!

7. Same here – who likes stairs anyways.

8. There’s multiple things we could redesign about stairs.

9. Sometimes, sinks are so large that they are even inconvenient for tall people – but there is such a straightforward design solution.

10. We can take sinks to the next level.

11. Design can help open doors. 

12. And we can make doors a real point of entrance.

… making people feel safe and secure… 

13. Don’t think doors provide the same security to all people.

14. Security and protection must be usable for everyone.

15. Especially at points of high risk, we need more inclusive design.

16. Trusting traffic participants is important, but how about better conditions per design?

… and making existing infrastructure available and enjoyable for everyone…

17. Some of us enjoy vibrant supermarkets – but for some it’s unbearable.

18. Supermarkets are a thing that we basically can’t prevent going to, so we should carefully make them accessible to everyone.

19. All of us have the same right to visit the beautiful places on this planet, and we can make them accessible to everyone.

20. Even if it’s clear that people with significant visual disabilities are not able to use some products and services (yet), like driving an e-scooter, it does not mean they have not to be considered when designing the devices.

21. Some very basic infrastructure is easy to design. Like chairs.

22. And sometimes accessibility is only a matter of language and translation.

… designing public spaces so we can come together…

23. It’s details that make an impact.

24. Not only practical impact, but also impact on the public mindset.

25. Details that help us never forget about the disabled.

… or playgrounds for our kids and the young-at-heart… 

26. Like swings for people in wheelchairs.

27. And swings with seatbelts for disabled people.

28. Common playgrounds can have more to offer than swings only.

29. Making the best things of childhood available to all kids.

30. And helping kids make friends, and at the same time learn new languages.

… or toys for fun and education… 

31. Many toys are still based on stereotypes and they are everything but diverse – let's do, foster, and appreciate the tiny steps into the right direction.

32. Just because: why not?

33. After all, toys are not only for pure playing, but they do have educational value.

… and why not additionally promote the intention, when sometimes a simple sign or a statement is enough.

34. It’s so easy to make reminders better visible.

35. A sign that we do care about physical conditions.

36. Not only physical conditions, but also mental conditions.

37. Redesigning established means whilst keeping their original purpose – by the way, we have the same in our headquarter’s city, Innsbruck (and we love them).

38. We also have benches like these in Innsbruck (we love these too).

Of course this is only a few beautiful examples, but there's still a long way to go, many ideas to have, many actions to take – for all of us. 

Feeling inspired?
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FOR INCLUSION!

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