When it comes to the digital transformation of Scotland’s businesses, whether a startup, scale-up, or FTSE 100 giant, the conversation tends to favour cutting-edge technology that prioritises speed and power. 

But, actually, the success of digital evolution lies in making new tools, platforms, and processes fit into people’s lives, and into the businesses that deploy them, as seamlessly and harmoniously as possible.

Accessibility of digital design is central to this. Embracing inclusion in the process of developing customer facing technology which aims to deliver a top-notch customer experience to as many people as possible is a robust business approach.  

The business case for inclusivity

Accessibility isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a guiding principle. In the realm of digital innovation, where technology intertwines with people’s lived experience, fostering inclusivity isn’t just a moral obligation but a business imperative. 

According to advocacy organisation We Are Purple, businesses lose around £2 billion a month by not addressing the needs of people with disabilities. There is a clear business rationale for embracing inclusivity into all digital design – accessibility builds loyalty and trust, driving revenue and profits. 

The digital world should be a place where everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, age, or socioeconomic background, can navigate seamlessly. And it’s not just about complying with standards; it’s about creating an inclusive and welcoming experience.

Designing for diverse needs

As designers, our responsibility goes beyond a mere tick box exercise. The placement of a button on a screen, the selection of a particular colour scheme, and the choice and tone of language used in an app—all these factors matter profoundly in appealing to a wide audience.

For multitasking, work-from-home parents, non-native English speakers or people suffering from colour blindness, digital design should be designed in such a way as to cater for their diverse needs. 

Truly inclusive design involves meticulous planning. It delves into the nuances of coding, ensuring buttons are placed thoughtfully for ease of use, considering voice activation, and minimising information overload. It questions whether the chosen colours are accessible to everyone and if the language used is universally understandable.

Even internet speed and webpage loading times are vital considerations. Every detail matters in creating an inclusive digital environment.

Inspiration from other sectors

Digital design can gain inspiration from wider design disciplines and we should embrace this opportunity particularly when it comes to inclusive digital design.

My experience of working in product design at the start of my career, modelling and designing user interfaces for factory machines, gave me the opportunity to visit factory floors and watch how operators interacted with the machinery, thereby better understanding their needs.   

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Personal influences have also shaped my approach to design; from recognisinging the value of mapping user journeys – based on the ship design skills of my grandfather – to creating a user experience that is warm welcoming, as was the aim of my father’s work in restaurant design, these lessons all fed into a more complete understanding of my customers’ needs and, ultimately, help me to design a digital product with a diverse range of requirements in mind. 

In Scotland’s vibrant tech landscape, fostering inclusivity isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity. By embracing the principles of accessibility early in the design process, businesses not only enhance the lives of individuals but strengthen brand reputation and customer loyalty. 

By viewing inclusivity as the core of digital innovation rather than an optional feature, we move closer to a digital world where technology really does serve all.