~ Ethical Considerations for Designers ~
The ability to design for the widest range of people possible including the often-excluded groups is an important ethical issue for the modern designer. Historically, Designers have used the 95th percentile when designing however, modern times have required a push for more inclusivity in design, meaning more ethical considerations for designers.
Figure 1 - Example graph showing 95th percentile http://www.ergonomics4schools.com/faq/anthropometry.htm
Figure 1 shows a standard graph depicting the 95th percentile. It shows clearly that “The 5th% to 95th% range accommodates approximately 90% of the population.” [Openshaw and Taylor, 2006]. The 95th percentile is used to ensure the majority is catered for whilst excluding the top and bottom 5%. This exclusion has been documented and is under scrutiny, in one case by [Keates and Clarkson, 2004] who state, “many products, both software and hardware, are not accessible to large sections of the population.” This statement typifies the lack of design inclusivity witnessed at the time, affecting many relatively small groups, population wise, that culminate to a large section. For example, the blind community would be a relatively small populated group, however when added to the larger disabled community it results in a larger population. [Keates and Clarkson, 2004] Further go on to state that “Designers instinctively design for able-bodied users and are either unaware of the needs of users with different capabilities, or do not know how to accommodate their needs into the design cycle.” Implying that the average or general designer does not know enough to cater to the excluded persons and that teaching, research and specialisation is needed to help designers fully consider the spectrum of people. This need for further consideration and application of specialised knowledge is further supported by [Depoy and Gilson, 2010} who write “Over the past decades, definitions and understandings of disability have expanded and increased in complexity.” A greater emphasis is then put on the designers to consider the vast range of people they design for and strive for optimum inclusivity.
Inclusive design at its core aims to encompass every person regardless of physical or mental challenges, disabilities and limitations. As explained by [Voorend, 2019] “Inclusive design is a design approach that aims at integral design for all” and “aims to design products that are useful for all people.” Not only does inclusivity in design allow for previously excluded groups in society to have access to products for them it also can provide opportunities for the advancement and innovation of products in general.
In conclusion inclusive design is an important ethical issue in todays world that designers should consider. The importance of inclusivity cannot be understated as it allows for previously overlooked and excluded groups of people, specifically groups with some form of disability, accessibility in products. Where previously only very specific companies were specialising in design for these excluded groups as they were the outliers or the 1% and 99% that the 95th percentile model excluded in preference of the majority.
Bibliography:
· Depoy, E. and Gilson, S., 2010. ‘Disability by Design’, Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal, 6 (3)
· Keates, S. and Clarkson, J., 2004. Countering Design Exclusion. London: Springer, p.439.
· Openshaw, S. and Taylor, E., 2006. Ergonomics And Design A Reference Guide. [ebook] Muscatine, Iowa: Allsteel, p.12. Available at: <https://www.allsteeloffice.com/SynergyDocuments/ErgonomicsAndDesignReferenceGuideWhitePaper.pdf> [Accessed 14 March 2020].
· Voorend, R., 2019. How designing for inclusion can help develop better products for all. [Blog] Available at: <https://uxdesign.cc/how-designing-for-disability-can-help-to-develop-better-products-for-all-c703b489194e> [Accessed 14 March 2020].
Image List:
· Figure 1. (2004) Graph depicting 5th to 95th percentile. [Online Image] Available from http://www.ergonomics4schools.com/faq/anthropometry.htm
Comments