The Strategic Power of Inclusive Design
When we are creating, that being a product or a service, we often use our own experiences as a baseline. We view it so much from our own perspective that we often get “tunneled visioned” and fail to think about diversity. Fail to consider the 8.2 billion people in the world.
Inclusive design is for designers that want to create the best solution for the greatest number of people. It challenges designers to step beyond their own experiences and design with diversity always in mind. As the Microsoft Inclusive Design Guidebook explains, inclusive design is about learning from human uniqueness and using those insights to create better solutions for everyone. It’s about moving from designing for people to designing with people.
Inclusivity has shifted from a “good to have” tool to a strategic necessity for how organisations value their User Experience. Now more than ever organisations have to address the importance of accessibility and inclusion within their product or service. They are essential components of a successful User Experience strategy. Businesses that integrate inclusivity into their design processes reach wider audiences, reduce usability barriers, foster their brand image and benefit all users.
Recognize Exclusion and Learn from Diversity
Inclusive design is not only for users of diverse needs, but rather for everyone. Very often tools that started out as inclusive design have slowly incorporated themselves into everyday life such as, subtitles which were initially created for the deaf community but now have a bigger impact as they are often seen on TVs around crowded airports, or even as a way to help teach children how to read.
Diversity is society’s greatest asset, and inclusion remains our biggest challenge. In today’s digital era, companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google are proving that inclusive design is more than an ethical choice. By incorporating inclusive design techniques, they’re creating products that go beyond meeting accessibility needs. These are some examples of inclusive products:
The first step is recognising the exclusion, next it is up to the designer to put it into practice. Not designing for people but with them. For example, integrating inclusive research methods, such as diverse usability testing, interviews across varied user groups, allowing co-creation with the actual users to truly test how their product would work in the real world. Educating our employees on the usage of tools like:
The Design of Everyday Things By Donald Norman
The ROI of UX
Organisations that integrate inclusive design into their product development don’t just meet compliance standards but unlock real business value. By creating products that work for a wider range of people, companies reach larger audiences, open doors to new market segments, and build stronger relationships with their users. Inclusive design leads to experiences that are easier to use, more intuitive, and more user friendly which increases engagement, trust, and long-term loyalty. Around 15% of the global population actively lives with some form of significant disability. Engaging with inclusive design is not only ethical but a great business opportunity. Accessibility improvements often benefit far more than the original target group; for instance, easy-to-open packaging designed for people with disabilities is equally valuable for older adults, people with arthritis, and anyone who struggles with traditional packaging. A study by Accenture from 2020 found that companies actively engaging with the disabled community achieve 28% higher revenue, double the net income, and 30% higher profit margins. Beyond performance, inclusive design also strengthens brand perception, as today’s consumers are highly aware of corporate social responsibility and are more likely to support socially conscious brands. Overall, inclusivity isn’t just the right thing to do, it's a smart investment that drives growth, trust, and long-term success.
When designing, small changes can create a big impact. The first step is always recognising exclusion, listening to all kinds of users, and designing with - not only for - people. By doing this, organisations can create products and services that are accessible and inclusive. Inclusive User design and user experience isn’t just a moral or regulatory responsibility but a strategic advantage.
Contribution by Isabella Rowland. Born and raised in Ecuador and later relocating to Spain to complete her degree in Behavioural and Social Sciences at IE University, Isabella is deeply passionate about equality, inclusivity, and understanding human behaviour.
