How can industrial designers create more accessible designs for people with disabilities?

In my experience as a product designer, embracing inclusive design principles is paramount. When developing products, I prioritize understanding the diverse needs of users to create solutions that cater to a broad audience. For example, designing a smartphone with customizable font sizes benefits users with visual impairments while enhancing the overall user experience. I agree that inclusive design goes beyond addressing disabilities—it fosters innovation. By considering various perspectives, we create products that not only meet accessibility standards but also excel in usability, comfort, and safety for everyone. However, challenges may arise in striking the right balance between customization and maintaining a cohesive design language.

Inclusive design is crucial because it ensures that products, systems, and services cater to a wide range of individuals, regardless of factors like age, gender, culture, or disability. Personally, I see it as an approach that goes beyond a one-size-fits-all mentality, emphasizing the importance of designing for diversity and flexibility. For instance, creating a smartphone with adjustable font sizes benefits not only those with visual impairments but also individuals who prefer larger text for ease of reading. Embracing inclusive design acknowledges the varied needs of users, respecting their autonomy and dignity while enhancing the overall usability and comfort for everyone.

As a part of the uniform designs as I refer to the main thing we all designers need to focus on is not just esthetics but functionality and the operations or use of a product or any space in built environment should be fit for all . The first step towards this is to research on the challenges that many face in this space today with the AI Intelligence we can have enough data to set the design thinking cap for us . This gives us a framework to then apply in our designs . By Inclusive in my opinion is something that is easy to operate functional Esthetically pleasing . Some inclusions in our design space may also need customization and we should be ready to explore and incorporate .

Industrial designers can enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities by prioritizing inclusive design principles, involving users in the process, adhering to accessibility standards, and creating adaptable, sensory-conscious, and intuitive products that accommodate assistive technology. Collaborating across disciplines and advocating for the importance of accessibility within the design community can further ensure that designs meet the diverse needs of users with disabilities.

Using artificial intelligence, mechanical and electrical science. Interdisciplinary sciences. I will answer your question with Q. Do you intend to provide services to the disabled in the urban space? Do you have a project to help them around the house? Movement facilitation May I ask in what context? I might be able to give you an idea. regards, -Ali

Universal Design is and should not be much different than inclusive design . Some thoughts : FIT FOR ALL TIMELESS FLEXIBLE REGIONALLY RELEVANT LOCAL FLAVOURS EASY TO OPERATE COMFORTABLE SAFE BALANCED PROPORTIONATE SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY SUSTAINABLE CLEAR DIRECTIONS EFFICIENT

This is wonderful concept and something I've been thinking on for a while, I'm even undertaking a design thinking course to understand our users better and have an empathetic approach towards creativity. Would love to learn and read more on this topic.

Practicing inclusive and universal design as a designer hinges on thorough research and conceptual development. By focusing on a specific group, it can inadvertently benefit others by breaking down painpoints. Consider creating knives for autistic individuals—requiring an examination of their behavioral patterns and product interactions. The profound insight gained won’t be confined; it often transcends to benefit a broader audience to bring accessibility into the formula. Inclusive design inherently evolves into universal design, enhancing not only the product’s functionality for the intended group but also contributing significantly to its overall form and impact.

1. Universal design, inclusive design, participatory design and user centred design what ever your preferred method or jargon is the main thing is to develop empathy to discover the unspoken needs of end users, your clients technical and business needs. 2. Communicate the solutions backed by both qualitative and quantitative data. 3. Most important of all remember that you have the professional responsibility like engineers, doctors etc. to not only prescribe but if needed debate the merits of your solution and iterate until you come to a optimal solution. 4. Don't give in and do what's right for users and clients.

We have to be empathetic to be inclusive. We have to understand the needs. It is great we can take advanteges of all the resources available related to inclusive design.

1. Observe, talk to the people with disabilities and discussed your findings with as many normal people as possible. 2. Pick up a book validate your learning and get more insights. 3. Repeat the process until you feel confident.

In a positive evolution, the social landscape is changing and people with disabilities are no longer at the edge of society. Advancement in medicine has prolonged our life and the silver economy is thriving, designing products for people with disabilities both young and old is now an opportunity. That said the challenge now is to evolve at the same time the design language of products, that need to loose their medical look and blend with mainstream lifestyle, these products can look cool too.

In my humble opinion before designing anything we should live the problems of people with disabilities so we can change or mindset. This way any design will be driven by a totally different perspective or context

1. Pick top 5 objects you use the most on a daily basis. 2. Ask your self if according to what you learned about designing for all how you can improve them. 3. Sometimes you might come to a conclusion that they can't be improved. 4. Share your thoughts with others.