Why accessible design is better design
There are more than 1 billion disabled people in the world. This accounts for about 15% of the world’s population. If you are a business owner that is 1 out of every 6 potential clients, certainly not something you can afford to overlook.
As of 2020, 22% of the world’s population is over 60 years old — that is 22% of people with changing capabilities. Yet their combined spending power is significant, making them clients that cannot be disregarded.
If your product is solely dependent on color to convey a certain message you automatically exclude 4.5% of the world’s population who are color blind.
Miss out on all these potential users and your product may not have the reach it could or more importantly that it should have. In addition to this, it is highly likely that each one of us will face some type of temporary, situational, or permanent disability. It is only then that the gaps in the design of everyday products will stand out. Well-designed products will help us work through phases like those with ease.
When you design for all, you design better. Accessibility should always be built-in rather than bolted on. It just doesn’t work as an afterthought. Usability issues affect everyone, but they tend to affect people with disabilities much more dramatically. That is why you must include people with disabilities from the very beginning of every planning process for a better and broader perspective.
Designing for all makes us think not only outside the box but reevaluate the concept of the box itself! Is it even a box? Maybe it’s a circle or a polygon or a perennially changing shape which we have to adapt to.
There are so many products out there, that were initially designed with accessibility in mind, but have now become permanent fixtures, simply because they were so useful that people preferred them to the original designs.
Ramps — It seems that the ancient Egyptians were keen on accessibility way before the rest of the world. Ramps are one of the first few examples of universal design.
Automatic doors — Invented for the ease of waiters carrying food and drink at Wilcox’s Pier Restaurant in West Haven, automatic doors are in general extremely useful all over. Especially for those of us wanting to prove our powers of telekinesis by making the door open on command.
Subtitles — Initially used for foreign language films, subtitles became essential for the deaf community. Now they’re the preferred option by default and some folks can’t watch Netflix without them.
Flat-panel switches — designed for users with motor disabilities, these switches require less pressure to be exerted to activate them. This is a more desirable experience for any user. Not to mention how much sleeker they look as compared to regular switches. One step further would be a smart home system where you don't even have to touch the switch just say Light On/Off and you’re done!
Good design is all about creating experiences that work for all. This is something that is not optional anymore. It is your moral, ethical and legal responsibility to design and build inclusive products and services. So, design for both physical accessibility & digital accessibility from the outset of any project to build superior and more inclusive experiences!
