Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design - Kat Holmes, Director for UX Design at Google

Summary

This video explores the profound impact of inclusive design, tracing the speaker's journey from growing up in a diverse environment in Oakland, California, to becoming a designer focused on accessibility and inclusion. The speaker reflects on how design choices can either exacerbate or alleviate exclusion, citing historical examples like the design of New York City’s overpasses and modern-day innovations such as the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Emphasizing the importance of recognizing mismatched interactions, the video advocates for a design process that involves diverse voices and accommodates a wide range of abilities, ultimately fostering belonging for all.

Takeaways

• 😀 Diversity and inclusion are vital in the design process, as they shape the way technology interacts with and serves people from diverse backgrounds.
• 😀 The idea of inclusion should be re-examined, as the traditional mental model of a circle (where people are either inside or outside) can contribute to exclusion.
• 😀 The concept of disability was redefined by the World Health Organization in 2001 as a mismatch between a person's body and their environment, shifting responsibility for inclusion to designers and engineers.
• 😀 Ability biases are a hidden form of bias that can unintentionally exclude people with different abilities or needs when designing products or solutions.
• 😀 Examples of inclusive design, such as the bendy straw and the first typewriter, show how solutions created for individuals with specific needs can benefit a much wider audience.
• 😀 Inclusive design can help break down barriers that would otherwise exclude people from participating in society, technology, and public spaces.
• 😀 The traditional focus on the 'average' human being in design has resulted in solutions that fit no one perfectly. Designing for a wider range of abilities is more inclusive and beneficial for all.
• 😀 The failure to consider diverse human bodies, like in the case of fighter jets designed based on average measurements, can lead to disastrous outcomes and exclusion.
• 😀 The Xbox adaptive controller, created in collaboration with gamers with disabilities, is an example of how inclusive design can address exclusion and create new opportunities for participation.
• 😀 The importance of representation in design professions, such as architecture, is highlighted by the lack of African-American female architects and how this impacts decisions about urban development and the design of cities.
• 😀 Inclusive design is not about creating a one-size-fits-all solution, but about fostering a shared diversity of ways to participate, ensuring everyone has a sense of belonging and the opportunity to contribute.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the speaker's journey in the video?

The central theme is how inclusion shapes design, particularly focusing on how inclusive design can transform the way designers think and create solutions, especially when considering mismatched interactions between people and technology.

How does the speaker's background in Oakland, California, relate to the discussion of diversity and inclusion?

The speaker grew up in Oakland, a highly diverse city, which provided early exposure to the importance of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and religion. This shaped the speaker's belief in the value of inclusive design, especially in technology.

What personal experience influenced the speaker's shift toward inclusive design?

The speaker's early interest in creating prosthetic limbs and working in orthopedic biomechanics led to a belief that technology should be designed to complement and enhance human abilities. This belief evolved into a focus on inclusive design after encountering various barriers in technology and design.

What is the 'social model of disability,' and how did it influence the speaker's thinking?

The social model of disability, redefined by the World Health Organization in 2001, views disability not as a personal health condition, but as a mismatch between an individual’s abilities and the environment. This shift helped the speaker understand that designers are responsible for minimizing these mismatches.

What are 'ability biases,' and why are they problematic in design?

Ability biases refer to the unconscious assumptions designers make about people’s abilities, often resulting in designs that favor those with similar abilities to the designers themselves. These biases can inadvertently exclude larger groups of people, especially those with different abilities.

How does the design of public restrooms exemplify ability bias?

The design of certain public restrooms, like those with hand-sensor flushes, exemplifies ability bias by assuming everyone can see, read, or use their hands in specific ways. This excludes people with low vision, disabilities, or those who can’t use their hands for other reasons.

What is an example of inclusive design leading to innovation, as mentioned in the video?

The flexible straw is an example of inclusive design that started as a solution for the speaker’s daughter who had difficulty drinking from a straight straw. This innovation has benefited many others, including people with disabilities and those in specific situations, like bedridden patients.

How did the design of the first typewriter contribute to inclusive design?

The first typewriter was invented to help a blind countess communicate by enabling her to write letters independently. This inclusive design later benefited many other people, as it became a crucial tool for those who needed to write without sight.

Why is the concept of a 'normal human being' problematic in design, according to the speaker?

The idea of a 'normal human being,' based on average measurements, creates a one-size-fits-all approach to design. This assumes that everyone is the same, leading to exclusion. The speaker advocates for the idea that there is no 'normal' human, and designs should accommodate a wide range of human differences.

What lesson did the U.S. Air Force learn from the design of fighter jets, and how does it relate to inclusive design?

The U.S. Air Force learned that designing for the 'average' pilot resulted in poor outcomes because no one fit all the dimensions. This lesson led to the development of the 'individual fit principle,' which has since influenced more inclusive designs, such as adjustable seat belts and seats in cars.