Everyone has a role to play in making sure our products and services offer a great experience for all our users.
Designing inclusively is our responsibility, allowing everyone to access and use products and services equally regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or identities. Inclusive design considers the diversity of the user base and creates solutions that are usable, accessible, and appealing to as many people as possible.
Key inclusive design principles
Here is a list of key inclusive design principles:
Prioritise accessibility: Ensure accessibility is a main priority for in all phases of your product development. From the Discovery phase, Developmental phases and Evaluation phases, accessibility must be at the forefront of all stages.
Recognise and respect diversity: Design for the needs and abilities of diverse user groups, including those with disabilities, different ages, cultures, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Acknowledge exclusion and fix it!
Provide flexibility: Provide users with flexibility in how they interact with your product or service, including through different input methods, font sizes, and colour contrast options.
Be clear and concise: Use plain and inclusive language and avoid using jargon or complex terminology that may be difficult for some users to understand.
Use the NSW Design System: By using the NSW Design System you can create products and services that are accessible to the widest possible range of users without requiring specialised adaptations or assistive technology. The NSW Digital Design System incorporates components and styles that have been thoroughly tested to ensure compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards.
Consider context: Consider the context in which your product or service will be used, including the user's environment, time constraints, and emotional state. Understanding your audience helps cater to user's needs.
Test with diverse users: Test your products and services with diverse user groups, including those with disabilities, to ensure that they are accessible and usable for everyone. The feedback you receive will be extremely valuable.
Continuously iterate and improve: Continuously iterate and improve your designs based on feedback from users and ongoing evaluation of accessibility and usability.
By following these inclusive design principles, you can ensure that your products and services are accessible, usable, and welcoming to all users, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.
