Ultimately, UX is one of the most complex tasks in any development cycle.
The Last of Us 2 as an example. The video game has been praised as the new gold standard of accessibility.
The game was created with dozens of accessibility options in mind that take into account visual, hearing and motor disabilities. The game can be customized to meet a wide set of needs of different users. We could call it an accessibility buffet.
It can be argued that options like a high contrast screen can ruin the mood of a game that is supposed to be suspenseful, and this could very well be the case for a person who wants to feel suspenseful, but thanks to this option, people who would otherwise be excluded from the game and now feels “welcome”. By letting go of what the game is supposed to make you feel, Naughty Dog has created an experience that more people can enjoy.
Personalization is key here and this requires flexibility and awareness. Sometimes this will happen naturally and other times it will require diversity consultants who can help the development team break the Mr. Average mold.
Why design for diversity
If 80% of our user base is average, then why spend resources and time on features that only 20% will use? I have three answers for you:
First, from a business perspective, most of your competitors will fight for Mr. Average, but how many of them target the other 20%? If someone was serving this market we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.
So, as we have already discussed here at The Daily Bundle, there are benefits that go beyond granting accessibility to people with disabilities. Designing software with a focus on a broader human experience can make end products easier to use, more comfortable, and even expand their integration with the world at large.
Finally, we have the ethical answer. We are moving towards a world of social awareness and digital acceleration , and if we aim for a better tomorrow, one cannot exist without the other. Designing for diversity is about opening our awareness and design goals so that no one, regardless of circumstances, is left behind.
Source: BairesDev
