Summary
Many of us are interested in executing research in a more inclusive way - but don’t know where to start. Drawing from real-life examples, we’ll cover how you can start doing more ethical and inclusive research.
Key Insights
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Inclusive research goes beyond disabilities to include situational, temporary, and identity-based needs.
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About one billion people worldwide live with some form of significant disability, making inclusion essential.
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Inclusive design can expand markets, reduce servicing costs, and uncover unexpected business value.
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Closed captioning benefits not only the hearing impaired but also non-native speakers, multitaskers, and young viewers.
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Products like Guide Beauty’s adaptive makeup tools, co-designed with Selma Blair, serve users with physical challenges and improve usability for all.
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Adaptive clothing is a rapidly growing market that addresses diverse physical needs often overlooked in fashion.
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Financial services face regulatory pressure, especially in the UK, to make credit and loan processes more equitable and inclusive.
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Having diverse research teams encourages asking better questions and detecting potential harms in design decisions.
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Inclusive research often requires extended timelines and more detailed demographic screening to capture varied user needs.
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Legal exposure often drives initial focus on visual accessibility, but true inclusion requires broader and proactive approaches.
Notable Quotes
"Inclusion means creating spaces for people that make them feel they belong."
"It’s not that people are disabled, it’s the combination of needs or preferences that might make a space exclusive for them in the moment."
"If you’re designing for at least yourself on a day where you don’t have your full physical capabilities, you’re designing for inclusion."
"Inclusive research is not about edge cases; it’s about supporting people with permanent, temporary, or situational abilities."
"At least 80 percent of Netflix users were using subtitles at least once a month, showing benefits beyond hearing loss."
"Selma Blair, living with multiple sclerosis, partnered with Guide Beauty to design adaptive makeup tools that are easier for people with tremors to use."
"Financial conduct authorities in the UK are requiring companies to ensure equitable treatment in loan approvals and credit."
"Having a diverse team makes sure you ask the right questions and understand potential harms from many perspectives."
"Companies often start with vision-related accessibility because it has clear legal exposure, but that’s just the start."
"Resources like the US Census, CDC, WHO, and advocacy groups provide important data to build the business case for inclusion."
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