The Design Edge - Vol.01 No.06

Insight

Balancing Innovation with Accessibility: A Path to Inclusive Design

Innovation in design often feels like a race toward the next big thing—sleeker tech, faster processes, or groundbreaking aesthetics. But when innovation outpaces accessibility, the result can alienate users and inadvertently exclude the very people a product is meant to serve. How can designers and innovators strike the delicate balance between pushing boundaries and ensuring inclusivity?

Here’s a closer look at why accessibility should be a cornerstone of innovation—and actionable steps to integrate it effectively.

Why Accessibility Matters

1. Expanding Your Market: Globally, over 1.3 billion people live with disabilities. That’s a market segment too significant to ignore. Designing with accessibility in mind doesn’t just meet legal requirements—it opens doors to more users.
2. Universal Usability: Accessibility features often benefit everyone. Think curb cuts for wheelchairs that also help parents with strollers or subtitles that enhance experiences for non-native speakers.
3. Ethical and Legal Standards: Beyond profitability, accessibility aligns with principles of equity and inclusion and ensures compliance with regulations like the ADA or WCAG guidelines.

Actionable Steps for Balancing Innovation and Accessibility

1. Embed Accessibility from the Start​
Innovative design doesn’t have to sacrifice inclusivity. Involve accessibility experts and disabled users from the brainstorming phase onward to identify barriers early and solve for them creatively.

2. Prioritize Usability Testing​
Testing with a diverse group of users, including those with disabilities, ensures that innovations are practical and effective for everyone. Tools like screen readers or color-blind simulators can also identify hidden issues.

3. Use Accessible Materials and Interfaces​
Whether it’s a tactile interface for a product or a digital platform, ensure that design choices like font size, contrast, and navigation are optimized for all users.

4. Innovate with Flexibility in Mind​
The best designs are adaptive. For example, Apple’s VoiceOver technology wasn’t an afterthought—it was a reimagining of how users with visual impairments could interact with screens.

5. Adopt a “User-Centered” Approach​
Empathy in design goes beyond aesthetics. Consider real-world use cases, such as a product’s affordability, repairability, or ease of use, alongside its innovative appeal.

Case Study: Success Stories in Balancing Both

• Microsoft’s Adaptive Controller: Designed for gamers with physical disabilities, this product showcases how innovation and accessibility can go hand-in-hand.
• OXO Good Grips: Initially designed for arthritis sufferers, its universal design principles made it a hit with a broad audience.

Key Takeaways for Designers

• Innovation thrives when it’s inclusive. Accessibility isn’t a limitation; it’s an opportunity to create meaningful, widely embraced products.
• Accessible design can spark innovation. Thinking creatively to meet diverse needs often leads to unexpected breakthroughs.
• Test, iterate, and listen. Building accessibility is a continuous process that evolves with user feedback.

Accessibility and innovation aren’t mutually exclusive—they’re interdependent. By placing accessibility at the core of the creative process, designers can build products that truly resonate with the widest range of users.

Let’s create the future—together.

Enjoy this insight? Dive deeper with my Innovative Thinking template where I give you questions that will push your design by asking you the hard questions and many questions that designers forget to ask until it is too late. Developed from over 25 years as a design professional these are templates I use every day in my designs. Get it here.​

Case Study

Turning Any Toy Into an Open Play Toy

What is Open Play?​
Open play refers to activities where children use their creativity and imagination to play without strict rules or a predetermined outcome. Unlike passive toys (like battery-powered ones that do a single thing), open play toys invite exploration, problem-solving, and self-expression. Think building blocks, art supplies, or even a cardboard box transformed into a rocket ship. Open play fosters critical skills like creativity, independence, and adaptability—all crucial for a child’s development.

Why It Matters​
Research shows that open play encourages cognitive, social, and emotional growth. By allowing children to direct their play, they develop confidence, decision-making skills, and resilience. Plus, it’s more sustainable—open play toys don’t outlive their usefulness after one gimmick gets old.

How to Transform Any Toy into an Open Play Toy​
Got a house full of toys that seem to lead your child instead of the other way around? Here are actionable steps to encourage open play:

1. Strip Away Restrictions

• Remove batteries or sound effects. Without preset actions, kids must imagine what happens next. For example, a toy car without flashing lights becomes a vehicle in their imagined world.
• Cover overly detailed features with tape or fabric to encourage kids to personalize or adapt the toy to their storylines.

2. Add Open-Ended Materials

• Pair toys with simple materials like blocks, fabric scraps, or art supplies. A dollhouse gains new life when paired with play dough for custom furniture or paper for designing wallpaper.

3. Change the Context

• Reimagine the toy’s purpose. Can a toy robot become a knight defending a castle made of pillows? Challenge your child to use it differently.

4. Encourage Role Play

• Transform toys into props for pretend play. That toy dinosaur? Suddenly it’s not just stomping but delivering pizzas in a town your child builds from boxes.

5. Ask Open-Ended Questions

• Prompt creativity by asking, “What else could this toy be?” or “How could you use this differently today?” This sparks curiosity and stretches their imagination.

Bonus Tip: Don’t toss broken toys! Instead, let kids experiment with fixing or repurposing them. A broken truck can become part of a junkyard scene or turned into a planter for their "construction site garden."

Final Thought: The Open Play Payoff​
Turning toys into tools for open play doesn’t require new purchases—just a fresh perspective. By encouraging creativity and adaptability, you’ll help your child grow while making the most of the toys they already have.

Skill Builder

The Art and Science of Using Color in Design

Color isn’t just decoration—it’s communication. Used effectively, color has the power to guide attention, evoke emotion, and shape user behavior. But to harness its full potential, designers must understand both the psychology and practical application of color.

Here’s how to level up your use of color in design:

Why Color Matters

1. Emotion & Branding: Colors influence perception. Blue fosters trust (think banks), red drives urgency (sales or warnings), and green symbolizes growth or eco-consciousness.
2. Readability & Usability: Poor contrast can render content unreadable or inaccessible, frustrating users and alienating audiences.
3. Cultural Context: Colors carry different meanings globally—white may signify purity in the West but mourning in some Eastern cultures.

Actionable Steps for Effective Color Use

1. Establish a Color Hierarchy​
Use colors strategically to guide users. For example, bold primary colors for calls-to-action (CTAs), neutral tones for backgrounds, and muted shades for secondary elements help focus attention.

2. Use Color Contrast Thoughtfully​
High contrast improves readability and accessibility. Use tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to ensure your text and backgrounds meet WCAG standards.

3. Limit Your Palette​
Stick to 3-5 core colors for simplicity and cohesion. Use accent colors sparingly to draw attention without overwhelming the design. Not limiting your color palette is one of the quickest way for your designs to look amateurish and turn users away.

4. Consider Accessibility​
Design for colorblind users by ensuring no critical information relies solely on color. Patterns or text labels can add clarity. Roughly 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women experience some form of colorblindness.

5. Test Your Palette in Context​
Colors that look great in isolation might clash or lose impact in real-world applications. Test your designs in their intended environments which includes the type of lighting it would commonly be viewed in—web pages, packaging, or print. As always keep in mind the typical mood, stress level, and distraction level of the user when they are using your product as well. Does it need to be high contrast to see quickly or is your product viewed in a more leisurely way so less contrast, more aesthetic styling, is suitable?

Color in Action: Examples of Success

• Spotify: A vibrant green logo paired with dark interfaces ensures instant brand recognition and visual comfort during extended use.
• Google: Their iconic primary color palette feels approachable, playful, and universally relatable.

Quick Wins for Better Color Design

• Use Adobe Color or Coolors to experiment with harmonious palettes.
• Always test designs in grayscale to check contrast.
• Think beyond trends—focus on colors that align with your product’s message and audience.

Color isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a tool for function and connection. By using color intentionally, you can enhance the impact of your designs, ensuring they’re as effective as they are beautiful.

Ready to take your designs to the next level? Download my 10 + 1 Design Fundamentals Workbook—a game-changing collection of templates to refine your approach and create more impactful, user-focused designs. It's packed with actionable insights. Get it here!​

What I'm Excited About

Potential Play Checklist

Are you tired of wasting money on toys that only entertain for a moment and fail to engage your child’s imagination? The Play Potential Checklist is here to help. This powerful tool makes it easy to identify toys that spark creativity, encourage open-ended play, and foster STEM learning—all while having fun!

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What’s Inside the Checklist?

• What Is Open Play?​
  Open play is all about toys that give your child the freedom to explore, imagine, and create. Unlike toys that dictate how to play, open-play toys allow endless possibilities—helping children develop problem-solving skills, independence, and creativity.
• What Is STEM Learning?​
  STEM toys focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math concepts, building critical thinking and logic while boosting curiosity and hands-on learning. The best toys combine these principles with open play, creating opportunities for growth and fun.
• Why Are These Important?​
  Open play builds confidence and resilience while STEM skills prepare kids for the future. Together, they unlock your child’s full potential, making every moment of playtime more meaningful.

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What Makes This Checklist Different?

This isn’t just a list—it’s your guide to smarter toy shopping.
- Clear Criteria: A simple “YES” or “NO” format lets you evaluate toys with ease.
- Expert Insights: Each question includes a short explanation to help you make informed decisions.
- Visual Examples: Side-by-side photos highlight what makes a toy great for open play and STEM versus toys that miss the mark.

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See the Checklist in Action

Example Question:​
​Does this toy encourage multiple ways to play?​
​ - Good Toy Example: Building blocks that can become towers, animals, or mazes.
- Not-So-Good Toy Example: A pre-assembled model car that only rolls in one direction.

Each question is designed to help you spot the toys that will hold your child’s interest and help them grow, while avoiding those that only entertain briefly.

Who Is This For?

Busy parents, grandparents, and caregivers who want to make thoughtful toy purchases. This checklist saves you time, money, and frustration while ensuring your child has toys that truly enrich their playtime.

Get Your Play Potential Checklist Today!

For just [Price/Free], you’ll receive:
- The full checklist to evaluate toys for open play and STEM learning.
- Photo examples and expert explanations for each question.
- The confidence to shop smarter for your child’s future.

Click Below to Download Now and Start Making Better Choices Today!​
​Download the Play Potential Checklist​

​Bonus!​

By signing up, you’ll also join our community at Playlab by Redesign Revolution, where we share:
- Honest toy reviews.
- Open play and STEM activity ideas.
- Tips to transform any toy into a better play experience.

Don’t miss out—empower your family with better play today!

Team Tips

Design Sprints: The Shortcut to Team Alignment

Ever wish your team could stop spinning its wheels and start driving toward the same destination? Enter the Design Sprint—a five-day process for tackling big problems, prototyping solutions, and getting actionable feedback, fast. Developed by Jake Knapp at Google Ventures, design sprints are a proven method for fostering alignment, encouraging collaboration, and saving valuable time.

Why Design Sprints Work

Design sprints bring together diverse perspectives, forcing teams to focus on a single challenge. By combining brainstorming, prototyping, and testing in a structured format, they eliminate decision-making fatigue and drive consensus without endless debates.

Key Steps of a Design Sprint:

1. Understand (Day 1): Define the problem and align on the goal. Use customer interviews, stakeholder insights, and research to set the foundation.
2. Ideate (Day 2): Generate multiple ideas individually before refining as a group. This avoids groupthink and ensures fresh perspectives.
3. Decide (Day 3): Prioritize ideas based on feasibility and impact. Use voting or decision matrices to move quickly.
4. Prototype (Day 4): Build a realistic, low-fidelity version of your solution to test assumptions.
5. Test (Day 5): Get user feedback. Learn what works—and what doesn’t—without committing to a full build.

How to Make Sprints Work for You

• Include a diverse team: Pull in stakeholders from different functions (e.g., marketing, engineering, customer support) for a well-rounded perspective.
• Stay disciplined: Stick to the schedule. The tight timeline is what makes sprints effective.
• Be user-focused: Let customer needs guide your decision-making throughout the process.

Why They Foster Team Alignment

By compressing weeks of work into days, design sprints force your team to share context, debate trade-offs, and agree on the path forward—all while testing ideas in real time.

Final Thought

Design sprints don’t just solve problems—they build trust and clarity within your team. So the next time you’re stuck in the endless loop of “what’s next,” consider sprinting instead of strolling.

Spotlight

Exploring Inclusivity in Illustration Styles

Illustration isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about storytelling, representation, and connection. As designers and creatives, we have the power (and responsibility) to ensure our visuals resonate with diverse audiences. An inclusive illustration style can foster empathy, broaden perspectives, and make designs more universally relatable.

Why Inclusivity Matters

The media we consume shapes how we view the world. Inclusive illustrations can challenge stereotypes, celebrate diversity, and make everyone feel seen and valued. When brands and creators incorporate diverse characters and settings, they foster stronger connections with their audiences.

Key Considerations for Inclusive Illustrations

1. Diverse Representation: Showcase characters of different ethnicities, body types, ages, abilities, and gender expressions.
   • Example: Companies like Slack and Google intentionally feature a range of identities in their iconography and marketing visuals.
2. Avoid Stereotypes: Focus on authentic portrayals instead of clichés. Research cultural nuances to ensure accuracy.
   • Tip: Consult with community members or use cultural experts to guide your designs.
3. Accessible Contexts: Think about settings and scenarios. Are your illustrations only set in urban areas? Do they represent varied lifestyles?
4. Adaptive Color Palettes: Use colors that are inclusive of vision impairments, like colorblind-friendly palettes.
   • Tool: Try resources like Adobe Color’s accessibility checker to refine your choices.

Actionable Steps

• Audit Your Work: Review your portfolio for patterns. Are certain groups overrepresented or underrepresented?
• Use Reference Libraries: Platforms like The Noun Project or Black Illustrations provide diverse visual resources.
• Collaborate: Bring in illustrators or team members with different lived experiences to ensure your work is inclusive.

Why It’s Good Design (and Good Business)

Inclusive illustrations resonate more deeply with audiences, expanding your reach and impact. Brands that prioritize representation often see increased customer loyalty and stronger engagement.

Final Thought

Inclusivity isn’t a trend—it’s a necessity. By embracing diverse illustration styles, you’re not just enhancing your designs; you’re creating a more equitable world, one image at a time.