Resources: Ethics + Accessibility
A Designer’s Code of Ethics: A guide written by Mike Monteiro on the ethical responsibility we have as designers: “Before you are a designer, you are a human being.”
In Praise of the AK-47: Can we appreciate a well-designed object even if its purpose is bad? (The answer is absolutely fucking not and you should read the article.)
Ethics Can’t Be a Side Hustle: I promise not all of these links are articles by Mike Monteiro but this one still is because I think he’s great.
Techies Versus the Pentagon: An interview with a dissenting Googler on Project Maven.
Designing for Non-Binary Users: Designing with pronouns and non-critical personal information in mind.
Color Blindness Simulator: A web-based color blindness simulation with image upload.
Color Oracle: A browser plugin that you can turn on while looking at design files (or anything).
Cognitive Difficulties: Circumstantial inaccessibility is often overlooked in product design.
Accessibility Design Tips: I’m a big fan of Pablo Stanley’s writing (and characters) and this is no different.
An Alphabet of Accessibility Issues: A witty look at common accessibility issues.
Rethinking the Inaccessible UX of E-Commerce: The changing landscape of an API-led approach to e-commerce interfaces.
Exclusive Design: The author reverses the idea of inclusive design principles to create a list of exclusive design principles, and brainstorms how they could be used to exclusively benefit users with disabilities. “The theory I’m exploring with my research is that using these exclusive design principles explicitly for people with disabilities may help us in gaining expert knowledge about what would make a pleasurable use interface for them.”
[Julianne note: I like the idea but there is always the option to like……..hire people with disabilities and ask them for their opinions.]
FastCo Inclusive Design: “Design for the extreme user, and make the ‘average’ user superhuman.”
Ethical Design, The Practical Getting-Started Guide: You can’t beat a good long-read guide.
Designing Accessible Navigations: A list of actionable suggestions for creating accessible navigation systems.
Microsoft Inclusive Design: Another take on “by designing with the disabled in mind — designing so that the disabled can have universal access — we can create products better for everyone else.”
Color Contrast Compliance: Color contrast! Woo!
Microsoft Xbox Adaptable Controller: A look at the new Xbox Adaptive Controller, and what it means for gamers with disabilities.
Breaking Down Accessible and Universal Design: What exactly is Universal Design?
Products for Accessibility: A look at Cat Noone’s three products for accessibility: Lyra, a symbol to speech app for autistic children; Iris Health, a modern day critical health service; and Stark, a design tool for color-blind simulation and color-blind contrast.
The User’s Right To Remain Silent: Shady and misleading UX pop-up boxes
[Julianne note: I agree with his Facebook example; I disagree with his Reddit example, since it’s a Privacy Policy update and should be obtrusive. Your option to opt-out of a Privacy Policy is to not go to that website.]
Disability Product Design: People with disabilities are the original life-hackers.
