An introduction to inclusive design
Inclusive design is not a new genre of design, nor a separate specialism, but an approach to design in general and an element of business strategy that seeks to ensure that mainstream products, services and environments are accessible to the largest number of people.
In recent years there has been a shift in attitude, away from treating disabled and older people as special cases requiring special design solutions, and towards integrating them in the mainstream of everyday life through a more inclusive approach to the design of buildings, public spaces and, more recently, products and services. This is important for social equality but is also a significant opportunity for business growth through new products and services.
Central to this inclusive approach is the challenge of understanding and quantifying the numbers of people adversely affected by decisions made during the specification and design process. This ‘design exclusion’ takes several forms: older and disabled people suffer from it; so do economically vulnerable groups and those affected by changing technologies and work practices.
Senior management, design managers, marketing and branding executives, and purchasing and sales personnel all have a part to play in the delivery (or non-delivery) of inclusive design, and consumers have a key role in driving the process.
By 2020, close to half the adult population of the UK will be over 50 years old, while 20% of the inhabitants of the United States and 25% of those of Japan will be over 65. In the UK, only the 50+ age groups have increased significantly in size over the past 100 years.
With age, people change physically, mentally and psychologically. For most people these changes involve multiple, minor impairments in eyesight, hearing, dexterity, mobility and memory. At present, such changes have a significant impact on older people's independence due to an unnecessary mismatch between the designed world and their changed capabilities.
In recent years the expectations of disabled people for social integration and participation in everyday life have escalated dramatically. This has resulted, worldwide, in an exponential growth of legislation aimed at tackling discrimination and increasing access to buildings, goods, services, information and work.
Radical changes in expectations among the disabled community and unprecedented growth in the older age groups are challenging common assumptions about how products and services should be designed if they are to meet the needs of the majority. A direct consequence of this is that mainstream consumer markets will have to concern themselves with the substantial rise in the number of people who are less than able-bodied yet wish to enjoy an active and independent lifestyle.
The challenge is to use design as a tool for delivering on social and political expectations of equality and inclusivity, and so create a supportive environment of buildings, products, services and interfaces that makes it possible for everyone to live independent and fulfilling lives, for as long as possible. The more effectively this can be achieved, the more older and disabled people will be encouraged to spend the now considerable wealth they control on the goods and services that deliver independence and quality of life - a virtuous circle that will benefit business and society.
In the past, disability and ageing were seen to have no economic significance beyond their impact on welfare and healthcare. This is no longer the case: the increasing power of ageing populations is coinciding with an increase in equal rights legislation and a vocal and demanding disability lobby.
These factors will play a major role in shaping the future commercial and public service sectors. Unless these respond appropriately, the consequences will be serious for national economies and society generally.
Changes are needed at every level in public and private sector organisations if they are to adjust their consumer offers to reflect the new realities and grasp the emerging opportunities these yield. The principal challenges confronting organisations relate to their cultures - they are not confined to design. By moving swiftly to ensure that products, services, environments and communication systems are supportive of, and accessible to, older and disabled people, UK industry and government will be in a position to take a lead and reap the benefits of the innovations that result. Both government and voluntary sector organisations are encouraging the uptake of inclusive design. An important step in this direction is the publication of a new British Standard BS7000-6 Guide to managing inclusive design (2005).
In more depth
Read more about the new British Standard on Inclusive Design in the
‘Where to start’ section of this article
Both the 'how' and 'why' of inclusive design are covered here. The intention is to support designers, design managers and business decision makers in delivering inclusive design, and in implementing the new British Standard on Inclusive Design Management BS7000-6, published in February 2005. The standard introduces a new level of thinking and practical action steps to conventional design processes, and offers senior management a rationale and mechanisms for realigning business goals with changing consumer needs. (See also the ‘Top Tips’ section).