Equity focused design
There are many user design frameworks and all the frameworks face user centred design. These design frameworks accommodate users’ needs, putting users front and Center while creating and building designs.
Frameworks of Design
We discuss equity Focus design, we need to know other aspects of design frameworks. The first two would give an in-depth knowledge of what it is about. The universal design involves creating or building one product for a wide range of abilities and situations, so that one solution is proposed for all users. This method had its own problems. A lot of users were not included , many problems were left without solutions and people’s needs were not met.
The second framework is inclusive design. This particular framework puts in consideration ability, race, economic status, language, and gender while making design choices, thereby including people who have been traditionally excluded or marginalized in the society. This design framework solves for one user and extends its advantages and solution to many other users.
Learning about the previous gives us insights as to what equity focused design is about. Equity focused design provides design solutions for groups that have been historically underrepresented and ignored while building products. it’s goals are specifically centred on creating solutions for individuals in these groups alone. This means they are not only included while building these products for users, but these products are specifically built for them.
What is Equity focused design
It is reasonable to understand the difference between Equity and Equality before diving into this concept. Though they look similar, they are quite different. Equality means giving the same opportunity to all segments of individuals in the society while equity refers to providing a different yet fair amount of opportunity to everyone to achieve fair outcomes. Creating a pictorial illustration in our minds, if Mr A, Mr B and Mr C need help to complete their tuition fee of $50 and each have $10,$20, $30 respectively. A philanthropist appears to offer support of $50 for the three, it is only fair they shared the money to cover each person’s definitely instead of sharing the money equally. Here, equity is applied.
Equity is reached or exists when an outcome is no longer predicted by any aspect of an individual’s identity. Equity focused design is one of the important concepts to consider during the design process. Learning about accessibility will also help a designer Understand equity focused design better.
Equity focused design is the newest concept of design framework. It doesn’t just build products for people who have been ignored or underrepresented, the main goal for equity focus design is for community development, realised by reaching out and concentrating on communities that have been neglected overtime. An example with gender as criteria, a lot of women have been absent from the internet. Many because they have been stopped from using it by their spouses, frowned at by society in many countries while some others have been bullied into hiding from it because of hateful speech or being photoshopped into pornography. Recently, more women are coming back to the internet. Concentrating on products that will encourage more women to stay online is a way of implementing equity focused design.
Principles that can guide designers though Equity focused design.
To address equity things in between lines/gaps are considered. There are 3 guides to have in mind while working on equity focused design.
- Honor: it is crucial honour these individuals listen to the challenges they face, capture their various strengths and spectra of experience. While designers carry out their research, they need to understand that they matter.
2. Heal: Designers should understand that they are not only solving problems but oftentimes, healing. This is because many times this group of excluded or ignored might be traumatized, so during the research process, designers should listen and empathize while these groups tell their stories.
3. Keep an open mind: it is not always easy to come to terms with things you don’t fully understand. Designers should keep an open mind while they learn new things about these individuals, they should prepare to understand even if they’re hearing it for the first time.
It is important to bear in mind that equity focused design doesn’t solve all problems just like the other two previously mentioned. However, it provides solutions for the specific individuals considered while building the products.
Sources
- Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
https://www.coursera.org/learn/foundations-user-experience-design
- https://youtu.be/16xBZm1IAN8
