DESIGNING FOR THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN NOT CONSIDERED, THESIS 21

This thesis project was created to help designers, and individuals who are interested in designing accessibly, learn about and create solutions for common inaccessible experiences that those with disabilities face when using our everyday digital products and interfaces.

PROBLEM

Those with disabilities face negative digital experiences due to individuals involved in the product creation process not thinking about ethical implications and failing to implement inclusive and thoughtful designs when thinking about our everyday products.

INSIGHT

Designers and other corporate employees believe it’s important and want to learn and are open to growth, but often do not have the resources or are unsure of how and where to start.

HOW MIGHT WE?

This led me to the question of how might we attach our work to our personal morals? And how might we help people empathise with people with disabilities?

SOLUTION

A combined book and app learning and solution-driven experience to help designers and anyone interested in designing inclusively develop empathy and learn how to design solutions for common inaccessible experiences.

 FINAL PROJECT STATEMENT

Empathy is an emotion that many learn through experience. Designers often have to be empathetic, especially digital designers who design experiences for others. This project is a book and app experience aimed to build empathy about people with disabilities and their experiences with digital products through learning and designing solutions for different inaccessible experiences. The book utilises AR images to allow the reader to experience what individuals with different disabilities see, feel, and think. By scanning QR codes in the book, the user enters the app to create solutions to the problem spaces discussed. 

Those with disabilities still experience a lack of empathy through our everyday designs. Whether it may be the inability to buy jewellery for a spouse on valentine's day because the contrast between text and background on the website is too low, or being unable to watch videos with friends at gatherings because there are no captions; all these pose limitations to the overall quality of life for many individuals. 

Many of these problems come from those involved in the product experience not being knowledgeable, empathetic and understanding of individuals with different abilities not necessarily because of ignorance, but lack of awareness. How can designers develop empathy and understanding for those with disabilities while simultaneously learning how to design accessible digital experiences?