The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare many of the inequities that exist in our society - particularly regarding healthcare. These are complex problems. But as designers, writers, strategists, creators, and those of us working in healthcare, we have the potential to help improve health equity. We have the opportunity to include or exclude our audiences through the choices we make in the design process. Inclusive design is a new way of working. It seeks to ensure that products and experiences are usable by all audience members - regardless of their age, ability, circumstance, or other differences.
And while inclusive design includes concrete actions, it is more than a set of checklists. It's a method and a mindset. And to be done well, inclusive design must be applied at all stages of a design process. Inclusive design begins with understanding your audience and learning from them. It requires engagement with your audience and working alongside them in the design process. But the work of inclusive design is never finished. It requires us to continue listening and learning from our audiences. This is the only way to ensure we are meeting them where they’re at with the things we create.
The best part of inclusive design is that it doesn't just benefit some audience members! Inclusive design results in better experiences that benefit all audience members. And that, ultimately, is good for business.
In this workshop, we'll cover:
- What inclusive design is and why it matters
- The benefits of inclusive design, for both users and organizations
- Inclusive practices for research, content strategy, experience strategy, user experience and visual design
- How to get started and apply inclusive design to your own processes
- Hands-on practice with tools and resources you can use to support your inclusive design work
