Read the following article about Combatting Unconscious Bias in Design.
At the beginning of the article, author Jen Heazelwood says, "Without realizing it, biases can manifest themselves into our design decisions. How can we create systems that respond to diversity (gender expression, racial identity, class status, body type, etc.) and measure the impact it will have on the end user?"
Based on your personal experience and what you've learned, how would you answer Heazelwood's question?
Full Answer Section
- Designing for diversity. Once we are aware of our own biases, we can start to design for diversity. This means considering the needs and experiences of all users, regardless of their gender expression, racial identity, class status, body type, or any other factor.
- Testing our designs with diverse users. The best way to ensure that our designs are inclusive is to test them with diverse users. This will help us to identify any areas where our designs may be biased or exclusionary.
Here are some specific examples of how we can create systems that respond to diversity and measure the impact it will have on the end user:
- Use inclusive language. When writing text for our designs, we should use inclusive language that avoids making assumptions about users' gender, race, ethnicity, or other characteristics. For example, instead of using the word "manhole," we could use the word "maintenance hole."
- Provide options for customization. When designing our systems, we should provide users with options to customize their experience. This could include options for language selection, font size, and contrast.
- Use accessible design principles. We should follow accessible design principles when designing our systems. This means designing our systems to be usable by people with disabilities. For example, we should use high-contrast colors and avoid using text-only images.
- Use user research. We should conduct user research to understand the needs and experiences of our users. This will help us to identify any areas where our designs may be biased or exclusionary. For example, we could conduct user interviews to learn more about how people with different disabilities use our systems.
- Use data analytics. We can use data analytics to measure the impact of our designs on diverse users. This could include tracking metrics such as user engagement and customer satisfaction.
By following these tips, we can create systems that respond to diversity and measure the impact it will have on the end user.
In addition to the above, here are some personal reflections on how I have tried to combat unconscious bias in my own work:
- I have made a conscious effort to diversify my team. I have done this by reaching out to people from different backgrounds and experiences, and by encouraging them to apply for jobs on my team.
- I have made a commitment to inclusive design. I have done this by reading about inclusive design principles and by talking to people with different disabilities about their experiences.
- I have made a commitment to user research. I have done this by conducting user interviews and by tracking user engagement metrics.
I believe that it is important to be mindful of unconscious bias in all areas of our lives, but it is especially important in design. By designing for diversity, we can create systems that are more inclusive and accessible to everyone.
Sample Answer
To answer Jen Heazelwood's question, "How can we create systems that respond to diversity (gender expression, racial identity, class status, body type, etc.) and measure the impact it will have on the end user?", we can start by:
- Understanding our own biases. The first step to combating unconscious bias is to be aware of our own biases. We can do this by taking unconscious bias tests, reading about unconscious bias, and talking to people with different backgrounds and experiences.