Inclusive Design

Term from Accessibility Consulting industry explained for recruiters

Inclusive Design is an approach to creating products, services, and environments that can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of their age, ability, or background. It's different from regular design because it considers the needs of people with disabilities from the start, rather than as an afterthought. Think of it like designing a building with both stairs and ramps built in from the beginning, instead of adding the ramp later. Similar terms you might see include Universal Design or Accessible Design. This approach is becoming increasingly important as companies strive to make their products and services accessible to everyone.

Examples in Resumes

Led Inclusive Design workshops for product development teams across 5 departments

Implemented Inclusive Design principles in website redesign, increasing accessibility scores by 40%

Created Inclusive Design guidelines for company-wide digital products

Applied Universal Design and Inclusive Design methodologies to mobile app development

Typical job title: "Inclusive Design Consultants"

Also try searching for:

Accessibility Consultant Universal Design Specialist Inclusive UX Designer Digital Accessibility Specialist Accessibility Engineer Inclusive Design Researcher Universal Design Consultant

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you implement an inclusive design strategy across a large organization?

Expected Answer: Should discuss creating company-wide guidelines, training programs, measuring success through metrics like accessibility scores, and methods for getting buy-in from stakeholders. Should emphasize importance of including diverse users in testing.

Q: How do you balance inclusive design requirements with business constraints?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience in prioritizing accessibility features, understanding legal requirements, making business cases for inclusive design, and finding creative solutions that work for both users and business needs.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What methods do you use to test for inclusivity in designs?

Expected Answer: Should mention user testing with diverse groups, accessibility checkers, getting feedback from disability advocates, and following established guidelines like WCAG.

Q: Can you explain how you would make a website more inclusive?

Expected Answer: Should discuss practical examples like adding alt text to images, ensuring keyboard navigation works, using proper color contrast, and making sure content is clear and understandable.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic principles of inclusive design?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain core concepts like designing for different abilities, considering various user needs, and the importance of accessibility in design.

Q: Why is inclusive design important?

Expected Answer: Should discuss how inclusive design benefits all users, not just those with disabilities, and mention legal requirements and business benefits.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of accessibility guidelines
  • Knowledge of inclusive design principles
  • Familiarity with accessibility testing tools
  • Basic user research methods

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Implementation of accessibility standards
  • User testing with diverse groups
  • Creating inclusive design documentation
  • Accessibility audit experience

Senior (5+ years)

  • Strategic inclusive design planning
  • Team leadership and training
  • Complex accessibility problem solving
  • Stakeholder management

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of accessibility guidelines or standards
  • Lack of experience working with diverse user groups
  • No knowledge of accessibility testing tools or methods
  • Inability to explain how inclusive design benefits business goals