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!