Is Equity-focused Design Making a Difference?

Yes, the equity-focused design does matter. It’s a crucial step towards creating a more just and equal society where everyone has equal opportunities and the support they need to succeed. By considering the needs of all users and working to uplift historically excluded groups, we can create products and experiences that genuinely serve everyone.

The equity-focused design is the evolution of the early universal design concept. So let us first talk about universal design.

Universal design

The universal design idea was to create products that could be used by the broadest range of people and abilities, taking a single solution fits all approach (one-size-fits-all). However, this method was eventually recognized as inadequate, as it frequently resulted in designs that could not effectively serve designers’ intended user base. As a result, the focus shifted towards a more inclusive design approach, which considers all users’ diverse needs.

Inclusive design

The inclusive design considers individual differences such as ability, race, economic status, language, age, and gender. This approach involves involving underrepresented populations in the design process to gather their unique perspectives and ensure their needs are considered in the final design.

Inclusive design can be thought of as “solve for one, extend to many,” where the solution is designed to meet the needs of one particular group, and its benefits can also extend to other groups. The ultimate goal is to create experiences that are accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. However, the inclusive design still had limitations, leading to the development of the equity-focused design.

Equity-focused design

The equity-focused design takes the idea of inclusive design one step further by designing specifically for historically underrepresented or ignored groups to uplift them. To design with equity in mind, it’s essential to understand the difference between equality and equity. While equality means providing equal opportunities and support to all, equity means giving varying levels of support to each person to achieve fair outcomes.

In short, equity-focused design goes beyond just inclusive design by considering the unique challenges and barriers faced by underrepresented groups and working to uplift them through design. It’s about creating fair outcomes and equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of background.

Final words

In conclusion, designing with equity in mind is a crucial step towards creating a more just and equal society where everyone has equal opportunities and the support they need to succeed. Universal design was a great first step, but it was limited in effectively serving all users. That’s why the focus shifted to inclusive design, which considers individual differences, and now to equity-focused design, which uplifts underrepresented groups.

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