Evaluating the Inclusivity of an Engineering Design

The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity.

And the ways our differences combine, to create meaning and beauty.

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Learning Outcomes

Evaluate an engineering design ability to function in an inclusive and accessible manner.

Why engineers MUST consider inclusivity

• Responsibility: Engineers build the world, and by not considering inclusivity, they can unintentionally exclude people from participating in society.
• Professional and personal pride: You may believe that being inclusive is "the right thing” to do.
• Trust in engineers: Knowingly designing discriminatory products and services can harm both the profession and engineers' collective reputation.
• Compliance: Adhering to legal regulations and standards set by engineering professional bodies that mandate inclusive design.

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Advantages of considering inclusivity?

• Innovation: Inclusive design encourages creative problem-solving and innovative products.
• Market Reach and User Satisfaction: Designing for inclusivity can improve user experience and satisfaction.
• Safety: Ensuring usability for all can have critical safety implications.
• Design longevity: Inclusive design often results in more durable and adaptable solutions, avoiding the need for potential future (and costly) redesigns.

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Key terminology

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• Accessible design
• Universal design
• Inclusive design

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Accessible design

• Accessible design refers to products, technologies, and interfaces that can be used or "accessed" by people with disabilities (including auditory, cognitive, physical, and visual disabilities).
• In many cases, it is regulated by law.
• On its own, accessible design often leaves out large portions of the population who do not have a defined or legally recognised disability but could have problems or face barriers preventing them from using the technology.

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Applied to designing a park bench:

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• Create a standard bench for able-bodied people and a separate bench for those in wheelchairs.
• Ensure minimum compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

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Universal design

• Universal design (UD) ('one-size-fits-all' approach)
• Intends to create products that can be used to the greatest extent possible by as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
• Universal design focuses on developing a single solution that does not include adaptations or specialised versions for different preferences or needs.

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Applied to designing a park bench:

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• Instead of two separate benches from accessible design, create a single bench usable by both wheelchair and non-wheelchair users.

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Inclusive design

• Inclusive design encompasses accessible design, but unlike universal design, it embraces multiple versions of the product to allow users to tailor it to their needs.
• Beyond accessible design, inclusive design considers factors like age, culture, economic status, education, gender, geographic location, language, and race.

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Applied to designing a park bench:

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• Understand the range of user requirements beyond legal duty, e.g. cultural preference, pushchair users, and users of different ages.
• Design one or more solutions to meet all requirements, accommodating a range of users.

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The curb cut effect

• Adopting universal design can deliver unexpected benefits for people who are not the primary target of the design.
• This has been termed the "curb cut effect"*.
• Originally designed for wheelchair users, curb cuts also benefit people with strollers, bicycles, and shopping carts/trolleys.
• The curb cut effect occurs when a design intended for a specific group benefits a much wider audience.

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*curb cuts are known as "dropped kerbs" in the UK.

Analysing the inclusivity of a design

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A framework for analysing inclusivity

1. Define product demands: What does the design demand of the user in terms of motor, sensory, or cognitive abilities?
2. Analyse customer abilities: To evaluate accessibility and better understand opportunities for inclusivity, identify who would be excluded from using the product.
3. Review criteria: Using collected information and analytical reasoning, decide which features are deal-breakers and which ones are unique selling points.
4. Adjust the design: Iterate with inclusivity in mind based on the results of the analysis.
5. Continuous feedback loops: Try to continuously collect user feedback throughout the product lifecycle to enhance inclusivity.

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A framework for analysing inclusivity

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Group work: apply the framework to a bottle

In your groups, try applying the steps of the framework to this water bottle.

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1. Define product demands
2. Analyse customer abilities
3. Review criteria
4. Adjust the design
5. Continuous feedback loops

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If you struggle and need help or inspiration, see the teaching notes

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Further reading

• The curb cut effect

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curb_cut_effect

• A framework for analytical inclusive design evaluation

https://www.designsociety.org/publication/25736/A+Framework+for+Analytical+Inclusive+Design+Evaluation

• Exclusion calculator

https://calc.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com/

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