2021 Theme - Design of our Online World: Trust, Ethics and Integrity
Today we recognize World Usability Day, a day to rally around the goal of ensuring that the technology-based products and services important to life, are accessible and usable to all.
The global pandemic made us all aware of the extent to which we rely on technology, and how essential it is to staying connected, working, learning, relaxing, shopping and banking. It also showed how great the divide is globally in terms of our access to technology.
As creators of digital products and services, it’s our job and duty as professionals, to elevate standards of what good digital products and services look like.
To bring trust, ethics and integrity into our work, we can start by committing to principles of usability and digital accessibility by following best practices and global standards. This is bare minimum. And by the way, accessibility isn’t just the front-end code. It needs to incorporate user context, which can include: hardware, location and availability of high-speed internet, and individual knowledge and abilities.
The next level of trust building is complying with regulatory standards for privacy and personal data protection. Best practices and standards are there. Just because they might not be enforced consistently doesn’t mean they should be side-stepped. Have integrity. Earn trust.
The gold standard of usability involves digging deeper into user context and is the practice of inclusive design. Inclusive design actively incorporates the perspectives of a diverse range of people, and considers potential impacts, especially to marginalized groups, and then looks for solutions that avoid exclusion and unintended negative impacts.
This is easier said than done and can’t be ticked off a list. It is likely to be uncomfortable and confronting at many levels. This is transformative design and what we should aspire to.
.....
Resources
