Hi everyone!
This is Lexi and Ella and together we will
be talking about universal vs. inclusive design—
what they mean, how they're different,
and why they matter.
Here's a quick look at what we'll be
covering today.
First, we'll introduce the two design philosophies,
and explain the articles we chose.
Then, we'll break down universal and inclusive
design individually with examples,
compare and contrast them,
and wrap up with a summary of what we
learned and why it matters.
Design plays a huge role in how we
interact with the world.
Whether that's through technology,
public spaces, learning environments,
and even everyday objects.
When design is done well,
it creates access and opportunities.
When it is done poorly,
or without diverse users in mind,
it creates barriers.
Universal and inclusive design are both
approaches that aim
to make experiences better for more people
but they take slightly different routes
to get there.
For these ideas, we read three main articles.
The first, "Supercrips Don't Fly: Technical
Communication to Support Ordinary Lives
of People with Disabilities"
was about disability and
technical communication.
It challenged us to think about how
language, social contexts, and
assumptions shape the way we
design and communicate.
One big takeaway from our class reading
is that standardization, especially
in technical communication, can
unintentionally exclude people.
For example, assuming everyone can read
small print or access a website with no
captions, means some users get left out.
The article also points out that
technical communication often comes from
a normalizing gaze, meaning it defines
what's normal and anything else becomes a
problem to be fixed.
But disability isn't just an individual
issue, it's shaped by our environment,
our systems, and our design choices.
The second one of the articles we found
to support our topic is called
"A New Normal in Inclusive, Usable Online
Learning Experiences."
This article showcased how inclusive
design can make online education
more accessible, not just by adding tools
like captions, but by rethinking how we
deliver content in the first place.
The third titled, "Universal Design, Inclusive
Design, Accessible Design..." helped us
understand the definitions and overlaps
of each design type, especially
in the context of education
and technology.
Let's start with universal design.
Universal design is all about designing
something that works well for everyone
without needing extra changes
or accommodations.
It's about creating one solution that works
for as many people as possible from
the very beginning.
The goal is to make products
and environments inherently accessible
so that people of all abilities can use them
from the start.
Think about curb cuts on sidewalks.
They help people using wheelchairs
but also parents with strollers
or travelers with rolling suitcases.
That's universal design in action.
It benefits everyone.
Here are some additional examples
of universal design.
One great example is closed captions
on videos. They were originally
designed for deaf or hard-of-hearing
individuals, but now they help people
watching in noisy environments, learning
a new language, or trying to focus better.
Handheld showers are another form
of universal design.
And then there's voice-to-text
technology. That's universal design in action.
It benefits everyone. It's guided by the idea
that accessiblity shouldn't be an
afterthought. It should be
built in from the start.
Now let's talk about inclusive design.
Inclusive design, on the other hand,
focuses on actively including
diverse users—especially those who
might normally be excluded.
That means listening to disabled users,
people with different cultural backgrounds,
and people with varying experiences
before you even start designing.
Rather than designing one thing for all,
inclusive design often involves flexibility—
offering options or customization
so more people can benefit.
Inclusive design recognizes that
people experience the world differently
and those differences matter. It's not
just about fixing a problem, but
reframing the process.
For example, these Nike shoes
were designed with input from disabled
individuals. The result is a shoe that's
easier to put on and take off.
Braille menus at restaurants are
another great example.
Here's some more examples of
inclusive design.
ASL interpreters at events, performances,
or public briefings allow deaf individuals
access to real-time information without
relying on secondhand summaries or
captions.
Another example is pronoun fields
in various forms.
This inclusive design choice respects
gender identity and helps create
safer, more welcoming environments.
The last example we have for inclusive
design is flexible assignment formats like
letting students submit a video instead
of writing a paper or offering both group
and solo options.
Inclusive design recognizes that people
experience the world differently and those
differences matter. It's not just about
fixing a problem, but reframing
the process of design entirely.
So how do these two design approaches
compare?
Well, universal design aims to create one
solution that works for as many
people as possible right from the start.
It's about building in accessibility so it
benefits everyone automatically.
Inclusive design, on the other hand,
is more about the design process itself,
actively involving diverse users and creating
options that meet different needs.
It's less about one-size-fits-all and
more about making sure
everyone has a seat at the table while
the design is being made.
So, while universal design says,
"Let's design something that everyone
can use," inclusive design says,
"Let's design with everyone in mind,
especially those often left out."
And sometimes the results of
these two approaches can overlap.
For example, the Nike shoes could be seen
as both inclusive and universal—they were
created through inclusive design but now
benefit a wide range of people.
And both approaches are valuable—
together they move us closer to
accessible design which is the
ultimate goal.
To sum it all up, universal and inclusive
design are both powerful tools
that promote equity and accessibility
in our world. While they take different
approaches, they're both crucial in creating
environments and experiences where
everyone can thrive.
Inclusive design goes a step further. It
challenges technical communicators,
designers, and educators to rethink
who they design for and how they design.
It asks us to plan and build for a world
that includes everyone and not just the
average or the majority.
Here is a list of our sources.
It includes our three articles—one from
class and two additional ones.
Well, that's all we have for today.
Thanks for watching!
We hope this helps you think about how design
can be more thoughtful,
fair, and human-centered.
Bye!