Designing for Accessibility
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Designing for Accessibility Mallory Anderson, MSI 2015 Candidate, HCI 19 November 2014
Transcript of Designing for Accessibility
Designing for AccessibilityMallory Anderson, MSI 2015 Candidate, HCI19 November 2014
OVERVIEW
● DC Enabled by Design-athon
● Takeaways / “Best Practices” discussion
*Please ask questions or add comments at any time.
3-day event in DC / MLK Library & Google Offices
Entrepreneurs, Designers, Advocates, and more.
DAY 1 - Talks @ MLK Library
● Stephen Bennet, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) President & CEO● Adrienne Biddings, Policy Counsel for Google● Brett Heising, CEO & Founder of BrettApproved.com● Philip Reeves, Manager with DC Dept. of Small and Local Business● Diego Mariscal, CEO of 2Gether-International● Maria Town, Blogger at CP Shoes● John P.S. Salmen, AIA, President of Universal Designers & Consultants, Inc.
DAY 2 - Design-athon @ Google
● Meet & Greet with your team (randomly assigned)
● Empathy exercises / Pick a problem
● Brainstorm solutions
● Design through iteration
*Happy hour @ UCP Offices
DAY 2 - Design-athon @ Google
● Meet & Greet with your team (randomly assigned)
● Empathy exercises / Pick a problem / Share with the group
● Brainstorm solutions
● Design through iteration
*Happy hour @ UCP Offices
DAY 2 - Design-athon @ Google
● Meet & Greet with your team (randomly assigned)
● Empathy exercises / Pick a problem
● Brainstorm solutions
● Design through iteration
*Happy hour @ UCP Offices
DAY 2 - Design-athon @ Google
● Meet & Greet with your team (randomly assigned)
● Empathy exercises / Pick a problem
● Brainstorm solutions
● Design through iteration
*Happy hour @ UCP Offices
DAY 3 - Present @ Google
● Wrap up design solutions / Build presentations
● Judging of products & presentations
DAY 3 - Present @ Google
● Wrap up design solutions / Build presentations
● Judging of products & presentations
THE WINNERS
Best Prototype: “Relatch” / Dexterity Sensitive Bathroom Stall Lock
People’s Choice: “Weareable” / Hand Clip enabling those with missing or non-functioning limbs
Judges’ Choice: Idiom Chrome Extension / Addressing the needs of those with Autism
TAKEAWAY #1
Working in teams can be a challenge, especially with people you’
ve just met and working on a project lasting a day and a half. You
all are getting to know the project and each other.
● Assign a leader.
● Both speak up and listen.
● Embrace your team’s diverse backgrounds and skill sets.
● Don’t assume understanding.
● Use your leadership skills to motivate and persuade.
Thoughts? Additional suggestions?
TAKEAWAY #2
There is an art to interviewing a user. Remember you’re
interviewing an individual. Relatability, phrasing, and tone can
make a huge difference in how comfortable your user is sharing
personal stories with you. The last thing you want to do is offend
or alienate someone.
● Listen.
● Build their trust.
● Practice empathy (use inclusive language without
being overly politically correct).
● Be prepared to throw out everything you thought going in.
Thoughts? Additional suggestions?
IN CONCLUSION
There are a lot of great resources in the U-M network related to accessibility and a
lot of projects/events happening. Universal design efforts are both a human need
and a marketable skill to employers.
Read about the event and winning projects:
https://technical.ly/dc/2014/11/12/dcs-enabled-design-athon-promotes-universal-design/
Attend next year’s event:
http://ucpdesignathon.org
Email me with questions or feedback:
Thanks!
