Section Readings & Resources
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Mismatch | How Inclusion Shapes Designby Kat Holmes
How inclusive methods can build elegant design solutions that work for all.
Sometimes designed objects reject their users: a computer mouse that doesn't work for left-handed people, for example, or a touchscreen payment system that only works for people who read English phrases, have 20/20 vision, and use a credit card. Something as simple as color choices can render a product unusable for millions. These mismatches are the building blocks of exclusion. In Mismatch, Kat Holmes describes how design can lead to exclusion, and how design can also remedy exclusion. Inclusive design methods—designing objects with rather than for excluded users—can create elegant solutions that work well and benefit all. |
Holmes tells stories of pioneers of inclusive design, many of whom were drawn to work on inclusion because of their own experiences of exclusion. A gamer and designer who depends on voice recognition shows Holmes his “Wall of Exclusion,” which displays dozens of game controllers that require two hands to operate; an architect shares her firsthand knowledge of how design can fail communities, gleaned from growing up in Detroit's housing projects; an astronomer who began to lose her eyesight adapts a technique called “sonification” so she can “listen” to the stars.
Designing for inclusion is not a feel-good sideline. Holmes shows how inclusion can be a source of innovation and growth, especially for digital technologies. It can be a catalyst for creativity and a boost for the bottom line as a customer base expands. And each time we remedy a mismatched interaction, we create an opportunity for more people to contribute to society in meaningful ways.
Designing for inclusion is not a feel-good sideline. Holmes shows how inclusion can be a source of innovation and growth, especially for digital technologies. It can be a catalyst for creativity and a boost for the bottom line as a customer base expands. And each time we remedy a mismatched interaction, we create an opportunity for more people to contribute to society in meaningful ways.
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Mismatch WebsiteMismatch.design is a community and a digital magazine dedicated to advancing inclusive design.
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Microsoft Inclusive Design WebsiteExclusion happens when we solve problems using our own biases. As Microsoft designers, we seek out those exclusions, and use them as opportunities to create new ideas and inclusive designs.
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At Microsoft, our technology is designed to deliver increased access, reduced friction, and more emotional context to the greatest number of people. See how Microsoft experiences reflect the spirit of inclusive design as an approach to creating. A view into how we design for human motivations and needs, expanding interactions to become more inclusive and seeing diversity differently: as a dynamic inspiration for creatives.
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Microsoft Inclusive Design ToolkitWelcome to inclusive design. We offer these guidelines as simple starting points for meaningful change.
Inclusive design is for those who want to make great products for the greatest number of people. This manual is a comprehensive introduction to the world of inclusive design. Learn the basics and shift your design thinking toward universal solutions. These guidelines are the result of hundreds of hours of research and humbling conversations with remarkable people. Still, we have a lot of work to do before these practices are our everyday routine. Until then, we’re inspired to share and improve in partnership with each other, with our customers, and with you. – Microsoft Design |
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Inclusive Microsoft Design Toolkit Activity CardsThe activity cards are designed to support many different goals and outcomes. They’re organized according to five phases of a design process – follow them as a linear, comprehensive guide or use them more freely to supplement your existing practices. Working in tandem with the Support cards, these serve as a great introduction to inclusive design.
– Microsoft Design |
Article: | The No. 1 Thing You're Getting Wrong About Inclusive Design
The term inclusive design has been around for decades, but it was largely an academic practice until recently. When I first learned about inclusive design, very few companies were applying it to their work in a repeatable way.
Article: Design For All: Why Inclusion Matters in Business | Knowledge @ Wharton
a segment When creating a product or a system, designers often think about their target audience and overlook everyone else. For example, some products aren't user-friendly for left-handed people, those with disabilities or even different age groups. Yet a design that excludes a segment of consumers will fail to reach its full market potential.
