4 Ways Design Can Make the World a Better Place
Design helps us face some of the world’s toughest problems
Design is a broad and influential field, and most designers are caring, ambitious people who are (or should be) constantly asking themselves big, tough questions. How do we stop climate change? How can we deliver better experiences to everyone regardless of age, income, language, and ability? How can I raise and stimulate my client’s environmental awareness?
Yes, these are big challenges. But let’s start with a quick overview of four basic principles:
- Try to be more inclusive.
- Always keep ethical principles in mind.
- Don’t forget the green IT aspect of your project.
- Think circular.
1. Inclusive design
Similar to accessibility, inclusive design is more about considering impairment as an opportunity to learn and improve your design. By being inclusive, your goal is to offer a product or a service to as many people as possible. Hence, empathy is key, not only for your persona, but to match the entire diversity of your users. Don’t focus solely on permanent disabilities, because disabilities could also be temporary or situational, as shown in the following illustration.
