Visualising Design exclusion

Abstract

'Design exclusion' arises when a product cannot be used effectively because of choices made during the design process. Understanding the causes of such design exclusion is essential if better products, which accommodate the widest range of user capabilities, are to be designed. This paper investigates the prevalence of multiple minor impairments among older users who are most vulnerable to design exclusion. Effective ways of representing these impairments are also discussed, with the aim of helping designers better understand user capabilities, and thus reduce design exclusion.