Designing For Inclusivity

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You know how it feels when everyone’s invited to a party, and then there’s that one person stuck outside because the door doesn’t have a wheelchair ramp? Yeah, that’s what bad design feels like for a lot of people. While inclusivity might sound like a big word, it’s really just about making sure no one’s left out — whether you’re tapping through a Web3 GameFi platform or writing an essay in Microsoft Word.

Inclusivity in design means making tech that everyone can use, whether you’ve got perfect vision or need a screen reader, whether you speak one language or five, and whether you’re 12 or 102. Some tech companies? They’re total champs at this. Others… well, let’s just say they’re trying but tripping over their own feet.

So, let’s consider in detail what it means to design for inclusivity, how some companies are setting the bar high, and where others are missing the boat entirely. Along the way, we’ll talk about Microsoft’s Office 365, the controversies around facial recognition tech from Google and Amazon, and why inclusivity in design matters for everyone.

What’s Inclusivity in Design, Anyway?

Okay, picture this: You’re at a park, and there’s a ride everyone can get on — no matter how tall or short they are, or if they’re using a wheelchair. That’s kind of what inclusivity in design is. It’s about making sure products, apps, websites, and devices don’t leave people out. Not just people with disabilities, but also those from different cultures, age groups, or even just someone trying to use an app in a language they’re still learning. Shout-out to Duolingo, one of the greatest apps on the internet.

Inclusivity is like adding subtitles to a movie so more people can enjoy it. It doesn’t change the movie; it just makes it better for everyone.

Microsoft Office 365: A Masterclass in Accessibility

Let’s start with the good stuff: Microsoft. They’ve done a great job when it comes to inclusivity, particularly when it comes to accessibility. Office 365 has tons of built-in features designed to make life easier for users with disabilities.

For instance, Microsoft’s tools like Word and PowerPoint offer real-time captioning, voice recognition, and screen reader compatibility, making these apps usable for people with hearing or visual impairments. But it doesn’t stop there. Features like the Immersive Reader are game changers for people with learning disabilities like dyslexia. This tool makes text more readable by adjusting line spacing, reading aloud, and even breaking down complex words.

Imagine a student with dyslexia who struggles to read assignments quickly. Instead of feeling excluded or frustrated, they can use Office 365 to stay on track with their peers, thanks to features designed with them in mind. This is inclusivity in action, where no user is left behind.

Google and Amazon: Facial Recognition Controversies

Now, not every tech giant is getting it right. Google and Amazon have both faced heat over their facial recognition technologies, especially around racial and gender biases. In 2019, research showed that facial recognition algorithms were significantly less accurate in identifying people of color, particularly women. This isn’t just a design flaw — it’s a fundamental problem that excludes entire groups of people from using a service safely and accurately. Check the referenced articles for more on this.

Imagine a security system that can’t reliably identify people with darker skin tones. It’s not just frustrating; it’s potentially dangerous, especially in high-stakes environments like airports or public security systems. When a product doesn’t work equally well for all users, it highlights the importance of designing with diversity in mind.

Google and Amazon have both committed to addressing these biases, but the controversies underline an important lesson: inclusivity has to be baked into the design process from the start, not as an afterthought.

Why Should We Care About Inclusivity?

Inclusivity matters for two key reasons: it makes products better, and it’s good for business. When more people can use a product, that’s more potential customers, more engagement, and ultimately, more success. The more people who can use a product, the more popular it becomes. A product that’s inclusive can win over loyal users from different backgrounds who feel the product was designed with them in mind. It’s like making pizza that works for people who like meat, veggies, and even gluten-free. More people, more pizza, more happiness. Everybody wins.

And inclusivity also matters because it’s just the right thing to do. Imagine if someone built a treehouse but didn’t add a ladder, so only a few people could actually enjoy it. That’s what bad design feels like to people who are left out. Whether it’s a blind person trying to read a website that doesn’t work with screen readers or someone who speaks a different language struggling with an app that has no translation, it’s like being stuck at a party where everyone’s having fun but you.

Take cultural sensitivity, for example. In some cultures, certain colors or symbols have different meanings, and failing to consider this can make a product feel alienating. Think of how awkward it would be if a social media app used colors or imagery that carried negative connotations in certain countries. Good design should be sensitive to these nuances, just like language translation — no one wants to feel misunderstood by the tech they use.

Learning from Mistakes

The controversies around facial recognition highlight how serious it can be when inclusivity is overlooked. The same goes for accessibility. Think of how frustrating it must be for a visually impaired person when a website doesn’t work with screen readers, or for someone with mobility issues when a navigation system is too complex to use with one hand. A lack of inclusivity doesn’t just mean a bad user experience; it often means no experience at all.

But inclusivity isn’t a simple checkbox. It’s an ongoing process of listening to users, learning from mistakes, and constantly adapting. Some tech giants have taken these lessons to heart and have set examples for the rest of the industry.

Designing for Everyone

The bottom line? Inclusivity is not just about being “nice” or doing the “right thing.” It’s about creating technology that works for everyone, regardless of ability, race, gender, or background. And it’s about companies taking responsibility for the unintended consequences of their products. Tech giants like Microsoft show that with the right tools, inclusivity can be a win for both users and businesses. Meanwhile, companies like Google and Amazon remind us that there’s still work to be done.

For designers, the lesson is clear: inclusivity needs to be a priority from day one. From accessibility features like Microsoft’s to the cultural considerations that go into color choices and language support, every detail counts. So next time you’re designing a product, ask yourself: who am I leaving out? And what can I do to bring them in?

So, what can we learn from all this? The tech world is vast, but inclusivity makes it a little smaller — and a lot more welcoming for everyone. Tech companies should think about inclusivity right from the get-go. Because when you design for everyone, you make the world a little bit smaller and a whole lot more fun for everyone to enjoy.