This week, our lecture focused on accessibility and inclusive design, highlighting the importance of creating clear, simple, and supportive experiences for users with diverse needs. In relation to our project, it reinforced the need to design a service that is approachable and easy to navigate for individuals transitioning out of prison, particularly those who may face challenges with confidence or digital literacy. We also explored another placement opportunity for next year, which was informative and offered an additional pathway to consider for future development.
The placement talk introduced the AICC, highlighting a creative opportunity within a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment that aligns closely with our course. The role focuses on supporting industry-led initiatives, using AI to enhance and accelerate design processes, while working across multidisciplinary teams, including marketing and events. I found this particularly interesting because of the types of projects they work on and their focus on integrating emerging technology into design, offering a forward-thinking, practical experience within the industry.
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One of the key areas we explored in the lecture was designing to ensure people with disabilities can perceive, understand, and operate a product, often guided by established accessibility standards. Understanding these requirements was important, as it highlighted how thoughtful design decisions can remove barriers and make experiences usable for a wider audience. It also helped me recognise how I can more intentionally apply inclusive principles within my own work, ensuring my designs are both accessible and user-focused.
We also explored inclusive design as both a methodology and a mindset, focusing on how it considers the full range of human diversity. A key takeaway was the importance of integrating this approach early in the design process, particularly by involving diverse users in research and decision-making. This emphasised that inclusion should not be an afterthought, but a core part of shaping more accessible, relevant, and user-centred experiences.
The final area we explored was the European Accessibility Act and its role in setting legal requirements for accessible products and services. This highlighted how accessibility is not only a design consideration but also a regulatory responsibility. For designers like us, it reinforces the importance of consistently considering and adhering to these standards, ensuring our work is inclusive, compliant, and accessible to a wider range of users.
During the lecture, Paul recommended Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design by Kat Holmes, which I found particularly interesting. Having read it previously, it was valuable to revisit it in this context, as it reinforces key principles of inclusive design and highlights how mismatches between users and systems can create barriers. This recommendation helped strengthen my understanding of designing more accessible and user-centred experiences, which is highly relevant to our project.
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Designing for inclusion: Kat Holmes’ Mismatch
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