Unveiling the Power of Inclusive & Equitable Design: Insights from EGAL and Google’s Fellowship
By Emma Garcia
In the dynamic landscape of product design, the significance of inclusivity and equity is becoming increasingly clear. The Inclusive & Equitable Product Design Fellowship, a collaborative initiative between the Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership (EGAL) at Haas and Google, set out to explore this crucial area. Over 5 months, seven fellows from diverse backgrounds engaged in a groundbreaking project, creating two meditation app prototypes — one using a traditional design approach, and the other, an inclusive and equitable design process.
Two Design Processes
The fellowship’s approach was straightforward yet revealing. In the first iteration, the fellows followed a traditional design process, focusing primarily on general user functionality and aesthetics. This process, while efficient, often overlooked the needs of marginalized groups, who are frequently left out of mainstream product development.
In contrast, the second iteration was a deep dive into inclusive and equitable design practices. Guided by Google’s Guide to Product Inclusion and Equity, this process centered on the needs of underserved user groups. The fellows engaged in co-design sessions, actively collaborating with users and reflecting on their own biases and positionalities. This approach wasn’t just about tweaking the design; it was about fundamentally rethinking the ways that we engage with users throughout the entire process to create a product that resonates with those often ignored by traditional designs.
Discovering the Value of Inclusive Design
The results of this inclusive approach were striking. By identifying unmet needs and working closely with users, the fellows were able to reach new audiences, particularly those underserved by existing products. This collaboration led to the development of unique features and market opportunities that set the inclusive design apart from its traditional counterpart.
But the benefits didn’t stop at market reach. The inclusive design process also had a profound impact on the designers themselves. Engaging with underserved participants fostered a heightened sense of responsibility and purpose, making their work more meaningful and fulfilling. This shift in perspective is not just about creating a better product; it’s about creating a better, more thoughtful process that prioritizes the well-being and needs of all users.
Traditional vs. Inclusive Design: Key Differences
The fellowship illuminated significant contrasts between traditional and inclusive design processes. Traditional design often prioritizes efficiency, focusing on functionality and aesthetics based on general user feedback. While this can produce a functional product, it frequently results in solutions that mirror existing products, offering little market differentiation.
Inclusive design, on the other hand, involves co-designing with users from the outset. By integrating feedback throughout the design process and considering the unintended consequences of design decisions, this approach leads to more thoughtful and impactful outcomes. It’s not just about meeting the needs of the majority; it’s about addressing the specific needs of those who are often overlooked, leading to products that offered the “connection and reliability” the participants craved in “their mindfulness practice,” aiming deeper than the “soft music and pastel colors” they were offered by other meditation apps on the market. leading to products that are truly differentiated in the market.
The Impact of Co-Design and Inclusive Practices
One of the most profound insights from the fellowship was the power of co design. By moving from merely interpreting user feedback to actively designing with users, the fellows were able to create solutions that resonated more deeply with their target audience. This approach highlighted the importance of collaboration and the value of diverse perspectives in the design process.
Moreover, the inclusive design process emphasized the importance of considering language and accessibility. The final wireframe prototypes underwent rigorous audits, assessing the product’s accessibility and functionality. The examination process ensured that the app was more meaningful to users not previously considered in traditional design, leading to the integration of “peer-to-peer support, recommendations for mindfulness resources, and content created by individuals with similar lived experiences,” needs expressed by the users.
Final Reflections and Recommendations
The Inclusive & Equitable Product Design Fellowship offers a compelling case for the business value of inclusive and equitable design practices. These practices not only opened up new market opportunities and created differentiated products, but also instilled a sense of purpose and responsibility in designers, leading to more thoughtful and impactful work.
For leaders and practitioners, the fellowship provides several key takeaways:
Integrate Inclusive Practices: Make product inclusion and equity integral to every team’s design processes and strategies, rather than treating them as optional add-ons.
Prioritize Inclusive Recruitment: Allocate sufficient time and resources to recruit participants equitably for user interviews and co-design sessions.
Embrace the Power of Co-Design: Shift from simply gathering user feedback to actively involving users in the design process to create more resonant solutions.
The co-design participants praised the process as “thoughtful,” “open,” and “inclusive,” expressing satisfaction that the final prototype meaningfully incorporated many of the insights they had shared during the design workshop. They felt that their voices were truly heard and that the solution effectively addressed their needs.
As one fellow aptly put it, “The most profound realization was that inclusive and equitable design gave us a heightened sense of responsibility and care, making our work more meaningful.” This insight underscores the true value of inclusive design — not just in creating better products, but in fostering a more thoughtful, equitable, and impactful design culture.
Read about the fellowship in more detail here: https://haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/Inclusive-and-Equitable-Product-Design.pdf