14. Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit (Manual)

Since the whole toolkit is actually multiple files and videos, I'll be narrowing down the focus of this blog post to the toolkit manual, which can be found here. (the link downloads the file).

The document first starts off by explaining why inclusive design is so necessary, and how diversity can be seen as a source for making better designs. Designers often use themselves as the starting point when creating their work, excluding the people who don't understand or relate to. To practice inclusive design, one of the first things to realise is that there is no such thing as a "normal" person. The document also emphasises the importance of inclusive design in lowering the barriers to entry for societal participation for more people. 

In the next part, the document defines "inclusive design" as "A design methodology that enables and draws on the full range of human diversity". The most important part of inclusive design is to learn from a range of different perspectives. The document goes on to define "accessiblity" as "Accessibility: 1. The qualities that make an experience open to all. 2. A professional discipline aimed at achieving No. 1. They make it a point to distinguish inclusive design from accessibility, defining accessibility as an attribute whereas inclusive design is a method. 

The three principles of inclusive design are defined as: 

1. Recognise Exclusion

- Designers need to recognise disability as something that is context dependent rather than the attribute of an individual. It can arise from mismatched human interactions - when something just isn't built for the limitations of how a certain human functions. Designers need to understand that exclusion is also sometimes only temporary, or situational. 

2. Learn from Diversity 

- Designers need to learn insights from the way that different people have adapted to a world not designed for them. The way our current interactions with technology are often dependent on being able to see, hear, say, touch, learn, and remember in a certain way. As our technology is being developed, it's important to ask if they create more situational limitations for those who have different senses. 

3. Solve for One, Extend to Many

- A part of inclusive design is learning to appreciate and work around constraints. Many technologies such as closed captioning or high-contrast screens benefit people beyond what they were originally designed for. Designers need to consider a Persona Spectrum, taking into account people with permanent, temporary, or situational impairments.  

While the document doesn't dismiss the benefits of traditional user-centred design methods, it reminds designers to not forget to always take a few steps back to measure the inclusivity in their projects. The next part of the document moves on to the activities created as a part of the toolkit. I'll try to include them in my blog in the future if I have the time. 

References: 

Microsoft.com. (n.d.). Microsoft Design: Inclusive. [online] Available at: https://www.microsoft.com/design/inclusive/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2018].