As a UX designer, it is imperative to prioritize the inclusivity of individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their power or privilege. In reality, society often grants those with greater privilege and influence the ability to shape prevailing societal norms and values. Such dominance can inadvertently overlook crucial perspectives in the decision-making process of equity-focused design solutions, leading to the exclusion of certain users.

When developing products, your primary objective as a designer should be to consistently prioritize user needs and strive for a comprehensive understanding of all potential users. Therefore, conducting extensive user research with a diverse participant pool becomes pivotal in ensuring that your product adequately addresses the requirements of every user. It is natural to hold preconceived assumptions prior to conducting research, but it is crucial to actively challenge those assumptions. This can be achieved by asking simple yet thought-provoking questions, such as:

• How might people utilize your product unlike you?
• Are there any obstacles that users from special backgrounds could potentially face as they interact with your product?
• How can you provide a more equity-focused experience so certain people or groups do not feel excluded?
• Assuming you feel a specific way about the product you are building, imagine what the contrary of that feeling would be. It’s very likely that one of your users shares that opposing viewpoint.

When developing products, it is essential to consider that underrepresented and marginalized groups may have distinct expectations and approaches to interacting with your product. Marginalized populations refer to individuals who face exclusion or discrimination from mainstream society based on specific characteristics or unfair assessments of their educational experiences. The following are a few examples of such marginalized groups:

• People with physical or cognitive impairments
• People who speak various languages
• People with limited access to education and technology

Ensuring universal usability and value of products across all user profiles is of utmost importance. Let us consider a hypothetical scenario where you, as a user, are currently unemployed and searching for a job. Due to financial constraints, you have sold your laptop and now rely on your smartphone for job applications. Accounting for such unique circumstances when devising new solutions ensures a seamless and consistent user experience across various platforms and devices.

Conversely, underrepresented populations embody groups whose perspectives and values are insufficiently considered within a society predominantly shaped by a dominant culture. Examples include individuals from ethnic minorities or specific gender and sexual orientations who are frequently underrepresented.

Now, contemplate the influence of a designer’s personal circumstances, such as their educational, financial, or familial background, on their work. If one defaults to assuming a traditional family structure of two parents and children under one roof, one may overlook the requirements and perspectives of single-parent households or multigenerational homes when developing new solutions.

Regrettably, underrepresented and marginalized populations are often neglected in the research and design process unless designers consciously choose to include them. As you progress in your UX career, it is crucial to actively seek ways to include all potential users of your product. Pose these questions to yourself as a starting point:

• How might I build viable products with the goal that the predominant culture isn’t generally seen as the standard?
• How might I build viable products in a manner that urges all viewpoints to be incorporated?

Through this, you work towards making solutions more inclusive to all kinds of individuals.

Edge cases refer to situations where users encounter obstacles or scenarios that designers did not originally account for. These situations are beyond the user’s control to rectify. Effective UX design involves anticipating and addressing edge cases, guiding users back to the desired path even when unexpected challenges arise. To make the concept of edge cases in UX design more comprehensive, here is an example for you:

Imagine you are designing a mobile banking app. During the user testing phase, you discover an edge case where a user with color blindness is having difficulty differentiating between certain color-coded buttons. This is an unforeseen obstacle that the designers did not prepare for initially.

In order to address this edge case, you need to think thoughtfully and consider the potential impact of color blindness on the user experience. By anticipating such issues and being proactive, you can adjust the design by incorporating additional visual cues, such as using distinct shapes or labels alongside colors, to ensure that users with color blindness can navigate the app seamlessly.

By addressing edge cases like this, you not only improve the user experience for individuals with color blindness but also promote inclusivity and accessibility for all users. It highlights the importance of considering a wide range of potential issues that may arise for different user groups and adapting your designs accordingly throughout the design process.‍

Inclusive design encompasses making intentional design choices that consider personal identifiers such as ability, race, economic status, language, age, and gender. To achieve this, it is crucial to cultivate a diverse team of researchers and designers, including individuals from traditionally underrepresented populations. This approach ensures that a multitude of unique perspectives is present throughout all phases of the design process.

As a UX designer, your goal is to create experiences that are accessible to users with a wide range of abilities. An example of inclusive design in action is when developing a website, considering users with visual impairments. By incorporating alternative text for images, utilizing clear and consistent navigation, and adhering to accessibility guidelines, individuals who use screen readers or have visual limitations can effectively engage with the website.

Inclusive design rejects the notion of a “normal” user and challenges the idea of designing for an “average” person. Instead, it embraces the diversity of user needs and ensures that no one is excluded from using a product due to a lack of consideration for their specific requirements.

To ensure inclusive product designs that cater to all users, it is vital to embrace accountability from both colleagues and the user community. Actively seek the input and perspectives of individuals who differ from you, including users, coworkers, and stakeholders. By gaining a deeper understanding of their unique viewpoints, approaches, and how specific situations impact them, you can integrate their valuable insights into your design process. This collaborative approach promotes inclusivity and enhances the overall user experience of your products.

Here are some actionable steps to apply ethical design principles in your work:

1. Foster inclusive personas: When creating personas, ensure they encompass a diverse range of users, including marginalized or underrepresented individuals. Avoid perpetuating stereotypes or valuing only those who align with perceived norms. By being intentional and inclusive in persona creation, you can design for a broader spectrum of cultures and perspectives.

2. Expand your definition of stakeholders: While traditionally stakeholders may refer to project leaders and decision-makers, consider expanding this definition to include anyone who can be affected by your project. By broadening your stakeholder base, you can design with a wider audience in mind, accounting for their unique needs and perspectives.

3. Embrace collaboration: Collaborating with a diverse range of individuals impacted by your products yields valuable insights. Not only does this contribute to the greater good of society, but it also enhances your product design. To facilitate effective collaboration, consider the following:

• Ensure design decisions encourage the inclusion of all perspectives, even in the smallest details.
• Move beyond universal design by adapting design principles to fit new contexts and engaging with diverse users.
• Explore “multiversal” design solutions, where a design accommodates multiple entry points and meaningful experiences for various users. For instance, designing for both sighted and visually impaired individuals should allow both groups to equally and fully engage with the final design.

While there is still work to be done to incorporate more ethical and inclusive practices in UX design, by familiarizing yourself with these concepts, you are actively contributing to pushing the industry forward. Recognize the impact you can make on yourself, fellow designers, and the users of your products. Stay accountable, foster inclusivity, and remember the transformative potential of your work on the world.

Lastly, I wanted to share a valuable resource that I came across. From my perspective, Ethical Design Resources is an exceptional and comprehensive directory for UX practitioners. I highly recommend exploring it for yourself.

As we wrap up, I want to thank you for your support and engagement. I hope you found this article informative and thought-provoking. Stay tuned for more exciting content in the future. Until next time! 👋🏻

— Carina

‍

References:

CareerFoundry, Cynthia Vinney (2021). What Is Ethical Design? Here’s How To Become A More Considerate Designer https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/ux-design/what-is-ethical-design/

UXmatters, Juned Ghanchi (2021). Ethical Design: Why Is It Critical for UX Designers? https://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2021/02/ethical-design-why-is-it-critical-for-ux-designers.php